Japanese copper beetle

Systematic position: The Japanese copper beetle (Anomala cuprea) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Scarabaeidae. This species is a well-known pest in East Asia, causing significant agricultural damage and frequently requiring specialized management in orchards and nurseries.

Affected crops: This beetle is a highly polyphagous pest. Adult beetles cause damage to the foliage and flowers of various fruit trees, including peach, apple, and grapevines, as well as soybean crops. The larvae (grubs) reside in the soil and feed on the roots of turf grasses, ornamental plants, and various vegetable crops.

Biology and lifecycle: The lifecycle of Anomala cuprea typically spans one to two years depending on environmental conditions. Larvae overwinter deep in the soil profile. As temperatures rise in spring, they move to the root zone to feed, pupate, and emerge as adults in the summer. Adult beetles are primarily diurnal and aggregate on host plants for feeding and mating.

Damage and economic significance: The economic impact is twofold. Larvae cause the most severe damage by severing roots, which leads to stunted growth, yellowing, and eventually the death of the host plant. Adult beetles perform skeletonization of leaves and consume floral parts, severely impacting the aesthetic value of ornamental plants and the fruit production of agricultural trees.

• Mechanical cultivation of soil to disrupt the pupation sites of the grubs.
• Deployment of light traps and sticky traps during the peak adult emergence period.
• Application of soil-drench insecticides containing imidacloprid to control larvae in the root zone.
• Utilization of entomopathogenic nematodes, such as Heterorhabditis spp., to target soil-dwelling grubs.
• Manual collection of adult beetles from canopy foliage during the early morning hours.