Japanese beetles are a damaging pest of turf and landscape plants. Researchers at the University of Minnesota are examining the potential of a native soil fungal pathogen (Ovavesicula popilliae) to control these beetles and need your help!
Dr. Vera Krischik and Michael Angstman of UMN Entomology are looking for help from those at golf courses or public gardens in Minnesota to answer a survey on Japanese beetle management. They are also looking for potential participation in research that would involve allowing researchers to set up Japanese beetle traps on their property to determine if Ovavesicula popilliae is present. Every 2 weeks from July through September, Japanese beetle traps (Figure 1) would be set up near your grounds building and removed after 24 hours.
What is needed
- Fill out the survey on Japanese management at your site. Please complete the survey by July 1, 2022.
- If you would like to participate further in this research, please indicate that you are interested in collaborating by indicating that in the final survey question.
For more information on this project and background on controlling Japanese beetles, please refer to the following document.
The members of the Krischik lab are very excited to start working on this project in the hopes of one day establishing an endemic pathogen to manage Japanese beetles.
Project researchers contact information
- Dr. Vera Krischik, Extension Specialist, UMN Entomology, 612.625.7044, [email protected]
- Michael Angstman, Researcher, UMN Entomology, [email protected]