The Japanese beetle is the most economically important insect pest of blueberry in Michigan. Current strategies for control rely on application of broad spectrum insecticides targeting adults to prevent damage and also to minimize the risk of fruit contamination at harvest. However, recent availability of an insecticide targeting the larvae of this pest may offer an effective means of population reduction. Using small plot trials, this project compared the efficacy of Admire (imidacloprid) and Platinum (thiamethoxam) in reducing the numbers of early instar Japanese beetle larvae, while attempting to determine the optimal timing of application of these prophylactic soil insecticides in blueberry soils. The efficacy of two curative insecticides (Sevin (carbaryl) and Diazinon) against late stage Japanese beetle larvae was also evaluated using small plot trials. Research performed on commercial blueberry farms revealed over 85% reduction in grub density in field perimeters treated with Admire compared to those left untreated. The effect of perimeter grub treatments on subsequent adult beetle abundance in blueberry fields will be reported.
Species 1: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle)
Keywords: soil applied insecticides, imidacloprid
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