The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, has become the primary insect pest of blueberries in Michigan and is the target of multiple foliar insecticide applications. Cultural practices are being explored as components of an integrated beetle management program that aims to reduce beetle populations and the economic impact of this pest. In this study, the behavior of female Japanese beetles was observed in laboratory and field experiments during the summers of 2002-2003. One of the goals was to describe egg-laying behavior and identify cues that lead to the finding and acceptance of oviposition sites. The female’s choice of oviposition site was evaluated when offered different types of soil covers. Results show that the oviposition preference of females can be affected by the use of cover crops with different biological properties. In order to understand the practical implications of the behavioral experiments, abundance of adult and larval beetles were compared in a blueberry research plot that had row-middles planted with different cover crops. The results will provide a basis for recommendations to help blueberry growers reduce Japanese beetle abundance in and around blueberry fields.
Species 1: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle)
Keywords: cultural control, oviposition
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