Microbial pathogens and classical biological control of Popillia japonica in Arkansas

We surveyed North West Arkansas for naturally occurring microbial pathogens of larval and adult Popillia japonica (Newman). We were specifically interested in the incidence of Ovavesicula popilliae (Andreadis and Hanula), Paenibacillus popilliae (Dutky), and Eugregarine species. Other pathogens found in the gut, Malpighian tubules and hemolymph were also identified. This information serves as baseline data for the introduction of O. popilliae as a classical biological control agent of P. japonica populations in Arkansas.