Japanese Beetle Public Service Announcement - Please Pass It On

As a turf management industry stakeholder, you are receiving this note because of a highly destructive insect pest to turf, the Japanese beetle (JB), discovered in the False Creek area of Vancouver the summer of 2017.

JB is a voracious feeder of over 300 species of plants and a widespread outbreak would devastate many crops, particularly small fruits and landscape plant material.  It’s a serious problem for turf, its main host, and as a notorious hitch-hiker, potential to spread quickly to your area is high if left unchecked.

While the WCTA lists over 2000 member and non-member contacts in our database, we don’t know everyone in the turf management business, a short-coming when situations like this arise.  We’re hopeful you will pass the following note along to colleagues, even though they may have received it already, so we can ensure this and other issues are communicated to all stakeholders.  

Thank you.

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Dear Turf Manager,

As you may know, a highly destructive insect, Japanese beetle, has been found in the lower mainland of British Columbia.  Adults of the beetle are voracious feeders on over 300 species of plants and a widespread outbreak would devastate many crops, particularly small fruits and landscape plant material.

Parts of British Columbia have had to deal with infestations of insects that damage turf, usually as a result of animals and birds foraging on the larva.  The Japanese beetle also lays its eggs in turf which could create damage, but the additional impact on other plant material is of much greater concern.

Initially, adults of the insect were detected in David Lam Park over the summer of 2017 and a further infestation was recorded in 2018.  An extensive trapping program was instituted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) over the summer to attempt to detect other affected areas.

A report on the potential economic impact of a Japanese beetle infestation was funded earlier in 2018 by the Western Canada Turfgrass Association (WCTA) in order to point out the potential devastating effects that the beetle might have on the turfgrass industry.  The WCTA represents all sectors of the professional sportsturf management industry and for this reason, we are reaching out to not only inform you of the potential impact but also to expand our contacts so that we might alert you about a further infestation.

If you would like to be added to our contact list, please contact me at exec.director@wctaturf.com 

Sincerely, 

Jerry Rousseau
Executive Director
Western Canada Turfgrass Association