Japanese Beetle

Overview

Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) can have a significant impact on soybean crops, damaging foliage and reducing yields. By understanding the impacts of Japanese Beetles, promptly detecting the pests and using products like Willowood Lambda-Cy 1EC and GCS Bifenthrin 2EC, farmers can protect their soybeans and optimize their crop yields.

(Image Credit: Image by Roger Schmidt, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Bugwood.org)

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How Do Japanese Beetles Affect Soybeans?

Japanese Beetles are known for their voracious feeding habits and can cause severe defoliation in soybean plants. Japanese Beetles consume the tissue between the veins of soybean plant leaves, leaving only the leaf veins intact.

This type of feeding, known as skeletonization, results in a lace-like appearance of the leaves. Severe defoliation reduces the plant's ability to produce energy through photosynthesis and hinders overall plant development, leading to stunted growth and lower yields for soybean harvests.

Japanese Beetles also tend to feed on the flowers of soybean plants, resulting in poor pollination and decreasing the number of pods formed.

How to Identify Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles have a striking metallic green body with copper-colored wings, making them easily recognizable. Measuring about half an inch in length, one of their most characteristic features is the presence of five white tufts of hair on each side of their abdomen. These tufts are actually their eggs.

To effectively assess the presence of Japanese Beetles in soybean fields, farmers should conduct regular scouting to visually inspect plants, looking out for the bright green beetles on leaves.

However, Japanese Beetles are highly mobile and may not always be present during inspection. Farmers should also look for other telltale signs such as skeletonization of leaves and the presence of white tufts of “hair” (eggs).

Regions Affected by Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles are particularly problematic in the eastern and central regions of the United States.

However, their range has been expanding steadily over the years and they can now be found in many states across the country.

(Image Credit: Image by William Fountain, University of Kentucky, Bugwood.org)

When Do Japanese Beetles Affect Soybean Crops?

Japanese Beetles usually start emerging in early summer, specifically around June or July, although the exact timing may vary depending on the region.

They are most active during the warmest parts of the day.

How to Chemically Manage Japanese Beetles

When deciding whether to employ chemical products to control Japanese Beetles in soybeans, farmers should first assess the severity of the infestation and determine the economic threshold for treatment.

One popular option is Willowood Lambda-Cy 1EC*, an insecticide containing lambda-cyhalothrin, which is labeled for use on soybeans specifically for Japanese Beetle control.

Another option is GCS Bifenthrin 2EC*, which is another insecticide containing bifenthrin with similar label applications against Japanese Beetles.

Chemical products containing active ingredients like carbaryl or pyrethroids have also been proven to be highly effective in combating Japanese Beetles.

To mitigate the risk of resistance development, farmers should rotate between different chemical products with varying modes of action.

Disclaimer

© 2014 - 2024 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights Reserved. The sprout logo, “Farmers Business Network”, “FBN”, “FBN Direct” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc. This blog was written by Norm℠, reviewed and edited by Mikaela Tierney.

Lambda-Cyhalothrin and Bifenthrin are restricted use pesticides.

FBN Direct products and services and other products distributed by FBN Direct are offered by FBN Inputs, LLC and are available only in states where FBN Inputs, LLC is licensed and where those products are registered for sale or use, if applicable. If applicable, please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. Nothing contained on this page, including the prices listed should be construed as an offer for sale, or a sale of products. All products and prices are subject to change at any time and without notice and excludes CA mills tax and MN ACRRA fees. Terms and conditions apply.

*Willowood Lambda-Cy 1EC is a restricted use pesticide.

*GCS Bifenthrin 2EC is a restricted use pesticide.

*RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE Due to acute toxicity. For retail sale to and use by certified applicators only – NOT to be used by uncertified persons working under the supervision of a certified applicator.

Every product that labels JAPANESE BEETLE as a weed, pest, or disease the product can be applied against is shown below. Click any product for label and more information.
Acelepryn®Acelepryn® GAcelepryn™ 0.067% plus Pro-Mate® T&O FertilizerAcenthrin™Acephate 90 PrillAcephate 90 Prill Select™Acephate 90 WDGAcephate 90 WSPAcephate 97 WDGAcephate 97UP®Acronyx™ 2 FlowableAcronyx™ 4 FActara®Admire® ProAdvise® 2FLAdvise® FourAdvise® FourAgri-Flex® Miticide/InsecticideAlias® 2FAlias® 4FAllectus® SCAloft® GC GAloft® GC SCAmbush® 25WAmbush® InsecticideAnarchy 30 SGAnarchy 70 WPAnniston 70 WP InsecticideArborMectin™Arctic® 3.2 ECArena® 0.25 G Insecticide¹Arena® 50 WDG Insecticide¹Arena® S.E. 50 WDGArtistArVida® 30 SG InsecticideArVida™ 70 WP InsecticideAsana® XLAssail® 30 SG InsecticideAssail® 30SC InsecticideAssail® 70WP InsecticideAstro® InsecticideAthena™ Insecticide/MiticideAtrevia™ 1.2% SLAvaunt®Avaunt® eVoAvaunt® eVo Insect ControlAvaunt® InsecticideAvenger™ Bold S3™Avenger™ S3™Aza-Direct®Azatin® OAzatrol® EC InsecticideAzomar™Batallion™ 10 WSPBatallion™ 2 ECBatallion™ LFCBelay® InsecticideBesiege® InsecticideBi-Dash 2EBifen 2 AG GoldBifen 25% ECBifender® FC InsecticideBifenthrin 2EC InsecticideBifenture® 10DFBifenture® ECBifenture® LFCBracket® 90 WDGBracket® 97Bracket® 97 (Soluble Insecticide)Bracket® 97 WDGBrigade® 2EC Insecticide/MiticideBrigade® WSB InsecticideBrigadier® InsecticideCalypso® 4 FlowableCapture® LFR®Carbaryl 4LCarbaryl 4LCavalry™ IICedar Gard™Celite® 610CerealStar™ Select STCheminova Malathion® 57%Chlorpyrifos 4E AGChlorpyrifos 4E-AGComberCormoran®Couraze® 2FCouraze® 4Couraze® 4FCovert™ Termiticide/InsecticideCriterion™ 0.5 GCriterion™ 2F InsecticideCriterion™ 75 WSP InsecticideCrusader 2MECrusader® 1ECDanitol® 2.4 EC Spray Insecticide-MiticideDeadzone™Debug® ONDebug® ONDebug® OptimoDebug® OptimoDebug® TresDebug® TresDebug® TurboDebug® TurboDeclare® InsecticideDeclare® InsecticideDiscipline® 2ECDominus®DoubleTake™Durivo®Dursban® 50W-WSP Specialty InsecticideEcozin® Plus 1.2% MEElevest™Endigo® ZCEndigo® ZCXEnforce™ 75WSP Turf and Ornamental InsecticideEnkounter™ InsecticideEnvirepel 50™Envirepel-38™EverGreen® Crop Protection EC 60-6EverGreen® Pro 60-6Exirel®Exirel® Insect Control (With Cyazypyr®)Fanfare® 2ECFanfare® ECFanfare® ESFastac® CS insecticideFastac™ EC insecticideFerence® InsecticideFirestone™Frenzy AttackFrenzy VelozFurious® InsecticideFyfanon®Fyfanon® 57% ECFyfanon® 8 lb. EmulsionFyfanon® ULV AGFyfanon® ULV AG (67760-35)GCS Bifenthrin 2ECGCS Bifenthrin LFCGladiator® Insecticide/MiticideGrandevo® CGGrandevo® WDGGrizzly® TooGrizzly® Z InsecticideHarvanta® 50SL InsecticideHero® EWHero® InsecticideIMAX PlusImidan® 70-W (Water Soluble Bags)Imidashot DF InsecticideIntruder® Max 70WPKaiso® 24 WGKarate® with Zeon™ TechnologyKendo® 22.8 CSKendo™ InsecticideKilter®L - C InsecticideLada® 75WSP InsecticideLambda TLambda-Cy AGLambda-Cy™ EC Insecticide-RUPLamcap® IILamcap™Lancer® FCLancer™ 2ECLeverage® 360Livid® 90 PrillLivid® 97 PrillM-Pede® Insecticide Miticide FungicideMacho® 2.0 FLMacho® 4.0 FlowableMainspring® GNLMalathion 5Malathion 57 ECMalathion 5ECMalathion 8Malathion 8 AquamulMalathion 8 FlowableMalathion ULV® ConcentrateMalice® 0.5GMalice® 2FMalice® 75 WSPMallet® 75 WSP InsecticideMantra® 1G Greenhouse and NurseryMantra® 60 WSPMarathon® 1% GMarathon® 1% GranularMarathon® 60 WPMarathon® IIMatch-Up™ InsecticideMenace® 7.9% FlowableMeridian® 25WGMerit® 2FMerit® 2F InsecticideMerit® 75 WPMerit® 75 WSPMidash 2SC Ag InsecticideMidash Forte InsecticideMinecto® ProMineiro™ 2 FMolt-X®Montana® 2FMontana® 4FMustang® InsecticideMustang® MaxxNeemix® 4.5 Insect Growth RegulatorNufarm Chlorpyrifos SPC 2Nufarm Chlorpyrifos SPC 4Nufarm Lambda-Cyhalothrin 1EC InsecticideNuprid® 2SC Soil/Foliar InsecticideNuprid® 4.6F ProNuprid® 4F Max InsecticideObelisk™Omni® Brand Imidacloprid 2F Flowable InsecticideOrthene® 97Orthene® Turf, Tree & Ornamental 97 SprayOrthene® Turf,Tree & Ornamental WSPParadigm®Paradigm® VCPasada® 1.6FPerm-UP® 25DFPerm-UP® 3.2 ECPermaStar™ AG InsecticidePermethrinPermethrin 3.2 AGPermethrin 3.2 ECPermethrin 3.2 EC (70506-9-5905)PFR-97® 20% WDGPhoenix Hawk-I® 2LPhoenix Hawk-I® 75WSPPlatinum®Platinum® 75 SGPounce® 25WPPrey® 1.6Proaxis® InsecticideProaxis® InsecticideProaxis™PROKoZ® Zenith® 75 WSPProvince® IIProvince™Provoke™Punisher™Pyganic® Crop Protection EC 1.4 IIPyganic® Crop Protection EC 5.0 IIPyganic® SpecialtyQuasar™ 8.5 SLRancona® CrestRavage®Renestra™ InsecticideRespect® EC insecticideRespect® insecticideReveal®Reveal® CAReveal® Endurx™Revere® 2.0Ruckus™ LFR® InsecticideS-FenvaloStarSarisa™Scorpion® 35SL InsecticideSeguroSerpent™ 1 ECSevin® 4FSevin® SLSevin® XLR PlusSherpa® InsecticideSilencer®Silencer® VXN™Skyraider®SlugbugSniper®Sniper® Helios®Sniper® LFR®Stallion® BrandSteed® InsecticideSurround® CF Crop ProtectantSurround® WP Crop ProtectantSuspend® SCSuspend® SCSwagger®Tailgunner™Talstar® Nursery Granular InsecticideTalstar® S Select InsecticideTame® 2.4 EC SprayTebuStar® Elite STTempest™ Dual-Action InsecticideTengard® SFRTenkoz® Acephate 97Tenkoz® Permethrin 3.2 ECTersus® InsecticideTetrino™Tide Acephate 90 WDGTide Imidacloprid 2FTide Imidacloprid 4FTombstone™Triple Crown™ Golf InsecticideTriple Crown™ InsecticideTristar® 8.5SLTundra® EC (1381-196)Tundra® LFCTundra® SupremeUP-Star® Nursery GranularUp-Star® SC Lawn and NurseryVerdepryn™ 100SL InsecticideViloprid™ FC 1.7Voliam Flexi®Voliam Xpress®Voltage Endurx®Warden® Cereals HRWarrior II with Zeon Technology®Widow® InsecticideWillowood Bifenthrin 2ECWillowood Imidacloprid 2SCWillowood Imidacloprid 4SCWillowood Lambda 1ECWillowood Lambda-Cy 1ECWisdom® G L/NWisdom® TC FlowableWrangler® InsecticideZyrate®