COLUMBIA, Mo – University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management is reporting the first captures of Japanese Beetles this summer.
The beetles have been spotted in southern counties, along with Holt County in the northwest corner of the state.
Corn and soybean growers are advised to begin scouting fields. Adult Japanese Beetles mainly feed on upper canopy leaves, causing defoliation in soybeans. They’re also considered a pest to corn crops. They can clip corn silks necessary for pollination, resulting in yield reductions.
MU Extension’s pest monitoring website provides an alert system for Japaneses beetles. Visit ipm.missouri.edu to subsribe to the alerts.
AloJapan.com