The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, feeds on foliage or flowers of over 300 plant species in 79 families. Among flowering hosts, this scarab seemingly prefers flowers to foliage. In field and laboratory tests, we assessed host choice of beetles for flowers or leaves, and floral characteristics that affect host location. For six species of flowering hosts, Japanese beetles generally chose flowers over foliage of the same species. Location of flowers in the top of the plants influences landings of Japanese beetles on those plant parts. Field experiments with colored flower models showed more landings on those that were yellow or white, or on larger flowers. Implications of this work on the ecology and management of Japanese beetles will be discussed.
Species 1: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle)
Keywords: flower-feeding
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