Fauna
Insect

Japanese Beetle

Popillia japonica

Also known as Japanese Scarab

Metallic green heads and iridescent coppery wing covers make Japanese beetles striking in appearance despite their destructive reputation. Adults skeletonize plant leaves in broad daylight, congregating in dense feeding clusters on sunlit foliage throughout midsummer. Below ground, their C-shaped white grubs spend winter gnawing turfgrass roots before emerging as the next generation.

InvasiveAgricultural PestMetallic
Japanese Beetle reference1 / 7
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—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyRose Leaves, Grape Leaves, Turfgrass Roots
Predators
  • European Starling
  • Parasitoid Wasps
  • Moles
ThreatsPesticides, parasitic wasps, fungal pathogens
HabitatsGardens, croplands, turfgrass, suburban yards, orchards
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderColeoptera
  2. FamilyScarabaeidae
  3. GenusPopillia
  4. SpeciesPopillia japonica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Harmless to humans; safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Manual Removal: Hand-pick adults early in the morning when cooler temperatures make them sluggish.
  • Physical Barriers: Cover vulnerable garden crops with fine mesh netting during peak summer flight periods.
  • Trap Placement: Position pheromone traps far from target gardens to avoid attracting extra beetles.
Related species
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