Japanese Beetle (JB)

Pest Hotline: 1-800-491-1899

Treatment Areas

Treatment Information: What to Expect Notifications and Maps

Japanese Beetle Info Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Pest Profile

Japanese Beetle Project Decisions

2024 JB Project Decisions
- Rancho Cordova – Treatment
  - 7 JB adults detected in 2022
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 3, 2023
- Sacramento – Treatment
  - 1 JB adult detected in 2022
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 3, 2023
- Sacramento Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2023
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2024 (standard high hazard density)
- Sacramento Mather Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2023
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2024 (standard high hazard density)
2023 JB Project Decisions
- John Wayne Airport – No treatment
  - Two JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2022
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2023 (standard high hazard density)
- Los Angeles High Hazard Sites – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2022
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2023 (standard high hazard density)
- Rancho Cordova – Treatment
  - 7 JB adults detected in 2022
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 3, 2023
- Sacramento – Treatment
  - 2 JB adults detected in 2022
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 3, 2023
- San Diego Airport – No treatment
  - Two JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2022
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2023 (standard high hazard density)

2022 JB Project Decisions
- Los Angeles High Hazard Sites – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2021
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2022 (standard high hazard density)
- Ontario Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2021
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2022 (standard high hazard density)
- Rancho Cordova – Treatment
  - 128 JB adults detected in 2021
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 2, 2022
- Sacramento – Treatment
  - 11 JB adults detected in 2021
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 2, 2022
- San Bernardino Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2021
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2022
- Travis Air Force Base – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2021
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2022
- San Diego Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2021
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2022 (standard high hazard density)
- Van Nuys Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2021
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2022 (standard high hazard density)
2021 JB Project Decisions
- LAX – No treatment
  - Three JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
- Los Angeles High Hazard Sites – No treatment
  - Two JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
- March Air Reserve Base – No Treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- North Hollywood High Hazard Site – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
- Ontario Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
- Rancho Cordova – Treatment
  - 64 JB adults detected in 2020
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 2, 2021
- Sacramento – Treatment
  - 28 JB adults detected in 2020
  - Delimitation trapping beginning April 2, 2021
- Sacramento Mather Airport – No treatment
  - Two JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2021
- San Diego Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
- San Diego High Hazard Site – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
- West Sacramento High Hazard Site – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2020
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2021 (standard high hazard density)
2020 JB Project Decisions
- Burbank Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- LAX – No treatment
  - Three JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2020
- Santa Ana Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- Mather Field – No treatment
  - Four JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2020
- Sacramento Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- Ontario Airport – No treatment
  - Six JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- San Diego Airport – No treatment
  - Seven JB adults detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2020
- Stockton Airport – No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in high risk trapping in 2019
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- Cerritos High Hazard Site – No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2019
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2020 (standard high hazard density)
- Hawaiian Gardens – No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2019
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as delimitation trapping has ended
- Fair Oaks – No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2019
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as delimitation trapping has ended
- Goleta – No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2019
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as delimitation trapping has ended
- Seaside – No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2019
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as delimitation trapping has ended
- Salinas – No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2019
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as delimitation trapping has ended
2019 JB Project Decisions
- Carmichael - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2018
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as project has ended
- Cerritos - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2018
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2019 (standard high hazard density)
- Fair Oaks - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2018
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2019
- Goleta - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2018
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2019
- Hawaiian Gardens - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2018
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2019
- La Palma - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2018
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as project has ended
- Salinas - No treatment
  - 4 JB adults found in a regulatory situation in 2018
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2019
- Seaside - No treatment
  - 2 JB adults detected in 2018
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2019
- Stockton Airport - No treatment
  - 21 JB adults detected in 2018
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2019 surrounding find sites plus 5 traps per square mile in buffers 2 and 3
2018 JB Project Decisions
- Carmichael - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2017
  - Enhanced delimitation trapping beginning May 1, 2018
- Cerritos - No treatment
  - One JB life adult detected in 2017
  - 25 traps per square mile beginning May 1, 2018 (standard high hazard density)
- Fair Oaks - No treatment
  - One JB life adult detected in 2017
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2018 surrounding new find site
  - Other areas revert to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as project has ended
- Goleta - No treatment
  - One JB adult detected in 2017
  - Delimitation trapping beginning May 1, 2018 surrounding new find site
- Hawaiian Gardens - No treatment
  - One JB life adult detected in 2017
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2018 surrounding new find site
- La Palma - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2017
  - Delimitation trapping beginning May 1, 2018 surrounding new find site
- Stockton Airport - No treatment
  - 28 JB adults detected in 2017
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2018 surrounding find sites plus 5 traps per square mile in buffers 2 and 3
- Sunnyvale - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2017
  - Reverts to standard detection levels, 2 traps per square mile, as project has ended
2017 JB Project Decisions
- Fair Oaks - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2016
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2017
- Sunnyvale - No treatment
  - No JB life stages detected in 2016
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2017
- Carmichael - No treatment
  - One JB adult trapped on May 9, 2016
  - Delimitation trapping only beginning May 1, 2017
- Reasoning:
  - Eradication Project design provides for possiblity of carry over population (can only treat vegetative material per label instructions - this is why multiple year project)
  - Negative delimitation trapping for remainder of 2016 season
  - A late surviving instar emerged from an area which could not be treated in 2015 due to label restrictions
  - 2015 treatments with Merit 2F were made in late June and are not effective against an existing late instar if present
  - 2016 Acelepryn treatments made April-May 15 not effective against late instar/pupa but extremely effective for any new instar resulting from any 2016 egg laying
  - One detection does not meet the existing SAP's recommendation for an eradication treatment trigger

Japanese Beetle Detections

2024 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (180 adults):
  - 179 adults in Carmichael and 1 adult in Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County)
- Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected in regulatory inspections in 2024
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 7 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 78 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.

2023 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected outside high risk facilities in 2023
- o Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected in regulatory inspections in 2023
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 2 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Sacramento county.
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 17 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.

2022 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (9 adults):
  - 2 adults in Sacramento and 7 adults in Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County)
- Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected in regulatory inspections in 2022
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 5 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 116 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Joaquin counties.
2021 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (139 adults):
  - 11 adults in Sacramento and 128 adults in Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County)
- Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected in regulatory inspections in 2020
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 8 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Solano counties.
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 143 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Joaquin counties.
2020 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (92 adults):
  - 28 adults in Sacramento and 64 adults in Rancho Cordova (Sacramento County)
- Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected in regulatory inspections in 2020
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 13 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties.
  Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 221 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Joaquin counties.
2019 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB adults detected in traps outside high risk facilities in 2019
- Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (0 adults):
  - No JB life stages detected in regulatory inspections in 2019
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 24 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, and San Joaquin counties.
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 518 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara counties.
2018 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (2 adults):
  - 2 adults in Seaside (Monterey County)
- Regulatory inspection outside high risk facilities (4 adults):
  - 4 adults in Salinas (Monterey County)
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 46 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara counties.
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 871 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara counties.
2017 JB Detections

On September 21, 2017, a JB was detected in the Fair Oaks area of Sacramento County. This detection is approximately one mile in a southwesterly direction from the previous Fair Oaks JB Project area.
Statewide Detection Trapping:
- The trap density for statewide JB detection is two traps per square mile. In coordination with the County Agricultural Commissioners, the California Department of Food and Agriculture deploys and monitors JB traps throughout the State. There are approximately 12,000 traps placed and monitored statewide during JB flight season.
Delimitation Trapping:
- When a JB is detected, additional traps are deployed within a 49-square mile area to determine the extent of the infestation. Traps are monitored for two seasons after the last JB is detected.
Air Cargo Aircraft Inspection:
- During the summer when adult JB are active, an intensive aircraft inspection program is implemented at California airports where incoming aircraft arrive from airports in JB-infested states. The program is designed to find and remove JBs hitchhiking in aircraft before they escape from the aircraft and enter the surrounding environment.
High-hazard Trapping:
- A high-density trapping array is deployed in a one-mile buffer around each airport and at transfer/sorting facilities used by air cargo and express mail carriers.

Survey Type	Number of Detections
Statewide Detection	1
Delimitation Trapping	2
Aircraft Inspection	403*
High-hazard Trapping	51

* 403 aircraft had JB detected inside them

2016 JB Detections
- Trap detections outside high risk facilities (3 adults):
  - 1 adult in Hawaiian Gardens (Los Angeles County)
  - 1 adult in La Palma (Orange County)
  - 1 adult in Carmichael (Sacramento County)
- Trap detections at high risk facilities:
  - 20 adults at airports and freight forward facilities in Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino and San Diego counties
- Aircraft visual inspection detections (untrapped):
  - Adults found on 108 aircraft at airports in Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego and Santa Clara counties

Japanese Beetle Research

Report of Japanese Beetle Non-exchangeable Hydrogen Isotope Values From CDFA Interceptions

How We Can Stop the Japanese Beetle:

Final JB SAP Recommendations

PowerPoint Presentations and Recordings of
JB SAP Webinars

Japanese Beetle Origins and History

The Japanese beetle (JB), Popillia japonica, is native to Japan. Adults feed on the fruit, flowers, and leaves of a wide variety of plants, while the larvae live underground and feed on roots and decaying material, favoring grass roots. JB is most common on the northern Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido. It is not common on the more southern islands of Japan because it competes with other related species and because these islands lack the abundant grasslands of the north that are conducive to JB larval feeding. It is not considered much of a pest even on the northern islands because population levels remain constrained by the cool climate, which causes the JB to have a two-year life cycle, and by a parasitic fly that is well synchronized with the JB life cycle.

In 1916, JB was discovered in a nursery in New Jersey, possibly arriving inadvertently in potted bulbs from Japan. The environment it encountered in the United States (US) was warmer than its native range, and this allowed it to complete its life cycle in only one year, leading to a more rapid population buildup than in its native range. In addition, the abundance of grass grown in lawns in urban areas provided a ready larval food source, and this combined with the absence of its main parasitic fly further allowed the fledgling infestation to grow quickly and spread. As a result, in the 100 years since it was discovered in the U.S., it has completely colonized 20 states and partially infested another 15. Its US distribution now ranges from Maine south to Georgia and westward to the Mississippi River, with additional areas scattered across the Great Plains to central Colorado. California has historically been free of JB, but has experienced the occasional infestation. These infestations have been aggressively eradicated when found, and this has allowed the state to maintain its nationally-recognized JB-free status.

Is Japanese Beetle Established In California?

No, JB is not established in California. While the JB is established in most eastern states, it is not established in California or the rest of the western US. As localized infestations are detected here, we work to isolate and eradicate them before they can become footholds that could lead to wider infestation and establishment.

Damage Caused by Japanese Beetle

Natural Environment
The JB feeds on a broad range of plants, so if it became permanently established in California it would pose a serious threat to some of our native plants, including some of California’s threatened and endangered species that are related to one or more known host plants. A discussion of these species follows, and those recognized nationally are denoted as federally endangered (FE) or federally threatened (FT), while species on the California lists are state endangered (SE) or state threatened (ST).

Members of the rose family (Rosaceae) are commonly attacked by JB. Roses (Rosa spp.) are preferred hosts. Small-leaved rose (Rosa minutifolia; SE) occurs only in San Diego County in the United States. The Mt. Shasta snow-wreath (Neviusia cliftonii; Rosaceae) is found only in the Mt Shasta region and is closely related to Kerria japonica, a plant that is a known host for JB. Hickman’s cinquefoil (Potentilla hickmanii; FE; SE) is an endangered plant of the Central Coast of California that is in the rose family.

A range of grasses (Poaceae) are attacked by JB, especially in its larval stage. Rare grasses in California that might be attacked by JB include Napa bluegrass (Poa napensis; FE; SE) and Sonoma alopecurus (Alopecurus aequalis ssp. sonomensis; FE). In addition, California is the only home of a group of grasses endemic to vernal pools including such species as hairy Orcutt grass (Orcuttia pilosa; FE; SE) and Tuctoria mucronata (Solano grass; FE; SE).

The mustards (Brassica spp.) are attacked by JB. California is home to many rare, endemic members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Examples include California jewelflower (Caulanthus californicus; FE; CE), Metcalf Canyon jewelflower (Streptanthus albidus; FE), and Mt Hermon wallflower (Erysimum teretifolium; FE; CE).

The mallow family (Malvaceae) has many members that are attacked by JB. Examples of California genera containing rare species in this group include checkermallows (e.g., bird‐foot checkerbloom, Sidalcea pedata [FE; CE] and Keck’s checkermallow, Sidalcea keckii [FE]) and California hibiscus (Hibiscus lasiocarpus var. occidentalis).

JBs attack several genera of the legume family (Fabaceae), including theclovers (Trifolium spp.). Rare clovers in California include showy Rancheria clover (Trifolium amoenum; FE)andMonterey clover(Trifolium trichocalyx; FE; SE). The legume family also includes lupines, the larval food plants of several endangered invertebrates. Lupines, especially L. arboreus, are the larval food plant of the Mission blue butterfly (Plebejus icarioides missionensis; FE) and Boisduval’s blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides; FE).

Several genera of the knotweed family (Polygonaceae) are attacked by JB. In California, Hickman’s knotweed (Polygonum hickmanii; FE; SE) and Ione buckwheat (Eriogonum apricum spp. apricum; FE; SE) are examples in Polygonaceae of rare species that potentially could be attacked by JB. The genus Eriogonum contains several species that are the obligate host plants of endangered invertebrates such as El Segundo blue butterfly (Euphilotes battoides allyni; FE), Smith's blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi; FE), and Lange's metalmark butterfly (Apodemia mormo langei; FE; SE).

The exceedingly large daisy family (Asteraceae) contains several known hosts of JB such as sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and horseweed (Erigeron canadensis). Closely related species of concern in California include Algodones Dunes sunflower (Helianthus niveus ssp. tephrodes; FE; SE) and Parish's daisy (Erigeron parishii; FT).
Residential and Urban Environment
Do you like your lawn, apple and other fruit trees, crabapple, Japanese maple, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, sweet corn, other vegetable and ornamental plants? Do you enjoy your landscape and tree canopy? So does the JB. The JB has severe impacts on our urban environment affecting homeowners.

The following is from USDA’s Program Aid No. 1599, “Managing the Japanese Beetle: A Homeowner’s Handbook, 2004.”

“Both as adults and as grubs (the larval stage), Japanese beetles (JB) are destructive plant pests. Adults feed on the foliage and fruits of several hundred species of fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and field and vegetable crops. Adults leave behind skeletonized leaves and large, irregular holes in leaves.

The grubs develop in the soil, feeding on the roots of various plants and grasses and often destroying turf in lawns, parks, golf courses, and pastures. Today, the Japanese beetle is the most widespread turf-grass pest in the United States. Efforts to control the larval and adult stages are estimated to cost more than $460 million a year. Losses attributable to the larval stage alone have been estimated at $234 million per year—$78 million for control costs and an additional $156 million for replacement of damaged turf.”

The $78 million for control costs represents increased pesticide use in areas east of the Rocky Mountains where JB is established and there is no attempt to eradicate it as it is not feasible. These are the pest control management costs that come with having to “live with” the JB.

Larvae damage to turf

Adult damage to urban trees

Adult damage to corn

Adult damage to rose flower

Adult damage to rose foliage

Adult damage to basil
Agriculture
JB would cause damage to most fruit trees, vineyards for wine, raisins and table grapes, other berry crops, turf and nursery stock. Small farmers and nurseries near urban areas will likely be affected the most.

CDFA is a member of the National Plant Board and follows the national and international standards outlined in the U.S. Domestic JB Harmonization Plan . This JB Plan specifies the requirements to remain JB-free based upon general detection trapping and intensive trapping (delimitation) should a possible incipient infestation be detected in an uninfested state. If a state finds an incipient infestation and responds by conducting an eradication project followed by delimitation trapping with no subsequent JB detections, that state will be nationally and internationally recognized as being free from JB.

In order to prevent the introduction of JB via the shipment of infested nursery stock, most western states, including California have implemented quarantines against infested states. The quarantines are based on the U.S. Domestic JB Harmonization Plan (JB Plan) developed by the National Plant Board. The National Plant Board (NPB), which is comprised of all US state regulatory officials, formed a JB Working Group to develop the JB Plan. Participants included scientists with expertise on the JB and representatives from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Canadian Food Inspection Agency, other states’ regulatory experts and the American Nursery and Landscape Association.
Specific objectives and goals of the JB Plan were to:
- Establish a framework that encourages states to consistently and appropriately characterize Japanese beetle pest risk and infestation status based on up-to-date scientific and field information;
- Pursue more uniform adoption and implementation of pest risk mitigation measures to reduce pest risk to a level acceptable to receiving states. It is universally accepted that quarantine action must be shown to be necessary, reasonable, technically justified and limited to the action needed to adequately mitigate the assessed pest risk
CDFA is a member of the NPB and as such, is covered by the JB Plan. Under this plan, California is provided the highest national protection from the introduction of JB by being recognized as a “Category 1” state. This means that all states with JB infestations must provide any host material shipped to the state with the highest level of quarantine certification. All of California’s JB exclusion, detection and eradication activities have their foundation in the JB Harmonization Plan which is also internationally recognized by Canada.

The JB Plan can be found here

Reducing Habitat Conducive to JB Populations

California's Pest Prevention System

California maintains a five part pest prevention system composed of 1) Pest Exclusion to prevent the introduction and spread within the state of newly introduced pests, 2) Pest Detection to detect incipient infestations as soon as possible, 3) Pest eradication to eliminate incipient infestations when feasible, 4) Pest Management for infestations that are not feasible to eradicate but which can be controlled, and 5) Pest Identification and Outreach to ensure timely and accurate identification of pests and to educate the public about pest management activities.

Pest Exclusion Efforts Directed at JB

The United States Department of Agriculture maintains a JB Federal Domestic Quarantine (7CFR section 301.48) which enables the regulation of any airport or portions of an airport in a quarantined state. Regulated airlines are required to implement safeguards to prevent JB from entering the cargo holds and passenger areas of planes. Planes landing in this state from high risk regulated airports are inspected upon arrival for the presence of JB. In California, such inspections have occurred since 1960. In 2020, inspections yielded the interception of 291 Japanese beetles, with 3% of all 7,313 aircraft inspected found with one or more beetles.

CDFA maintains a JB State Exterior Quarantine (Title 3, CCR, section 3280) which prohibits all containerized nursery stock and plants with roots and soil from entering the state unless it meets the quarantine certification requirements. We inspect shipments at 16 strategically located Border Protection Stations (BPS) on our highways to ensure compliance with this regulation prior to entry into the state. BPS staff also inspect shipments of nursery stock and potted plants for JB larva and pupa that may be hiding in the soil and roots.

For packages being shipped to California, the County Agricultural Commissioners’ staffs perform inspections of incoming shipments at Postal/Fed Ex/UPS facilities. Our Dog Team Program strategically places inspector dogs and their handlers in various counties to increase the efficacy and efficiency of package inspections at the Postal/Fed Ex/UPS facilities. The dogs are trained by the USDA to detect packages containing plant material. County staff also perform destination inspections of incoming nursery stock arriving from states under quarantine for JB.

History of JB Interceptions /
Rejections in California

The following tables summarize the Japanese beetle interceptions by multiple facets of our pest exclusion system.

PDR, Rejections and Interception Totals for 2005-2019

Partial year	Interceptions	Rejections	PDRs	Totals
2005	0	12	5	17
2006	0	7	14	21
2007	0	11	51	62
2008	0	7	28	35
2009	218	7	5	230
2010	251	26	10	287
2011	272	45	6	323
2012	337	36	14	387
2013	103	18	1	122
2014	108	36	5	149
2015	18	177	10	1205
2016	120	210	22	352
2017	150	233	42	425
2018	373	8	38	419
2019	393	320	16	729
2020	386	256	0	642
2021	542	335	0	877
2022	458	321	0	779
2023	446	300	0	746
2024	546	355	0	901
Totals	4721	2720	267

***database collection did not begin until 2009

Interceptions = shipments of JB host material.

Rejections = shipments arriving which are not in compliance with our JB Exterior Quarantine requirements and denied entry.

PDRs = JB actually detected.

JB Airport Interceptions

County	Total	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Alameda	244					3	11	1					13	28	41	101	46	37	11	7	1	8
Fresno	14	4	10															1	3	11		6
Los Angeles	1392	107	241	221	79	62	15	86	21	38	7	16	25	58	63	180	173	72	62	31	2	39
Orange	53						3	3		3	1	2		4	5	17	15		6		2	1
Riverside	11																11	3	3	1		19
Sacramento	332				6	2	2	25	4	3	4	2	2	9	68	112	93	26	40	41	2	9
San Bernardino	2278						13	66	16	20	12	27	24	61	528	1132	379	105	45	18	4	3
San Diego	481						6	4	5	5	1	8	12	14	51	253	122	36	12	21	10	39
San Joaquin	640														133	439	68	11
Santa Clara	16					1								1		3	11

These were intercepted on incoming aircraft flights.

JB County Rejections	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Alameda	1	3	5	1	2	0	0	0	3	1	19	16	8	0	0	1	3	36	0	1
Butte	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Calaveras	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	1	0	1	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Contra Costa	0	14	14	7	3	5	1	0	2	3	5	5	0	0	11	15	6	0	27	12
El Dorado	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fresno	6	0	1	9	8	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	3
Humboldt	0	0	0	13	9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Los Angeles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	35	18	32
Orange	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
Placer	4	6	1	0	0	1	1	1	1	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Riverside	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sacramento	1	6	0	0	3	6	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
San Bernardino	0	0	0	3	22	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2	5	2
San Diego	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
San Joaquin	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
San Luis Obispo	6	8	11	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1
San Mateo	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	8	24	35
Santa Barbara	0	0	0	2	1	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Santa Clara	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	13	8	3	2
Santa Cruz	32	31	31	10	15	11	0	3	0	1	12	1	0	0	0	0	1	9	57	1
Shasta	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Solano	0	0	0	0	32	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	67	4	5	4
Sonoma	0	2	7	9	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	6	3	4	2	13
Tulare	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0
Yuba	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0

These are rejections made of incoming parcel shipments which do not meet the requirements of our JB Exterior Quarantine.

CDFA also conducts inspections of outdoor items from the east coast for the spongy moth. During these inspections an adult JB was found in Orange County in 2007 and Humboldt County in 2015 associated with outdoor items being moved here from the east coast. In 2011 the Fresno County dog team intercepted JB in a single plant being shipped into the state through a parcel service.

Pest Detection Efforts Directed at JB

In California, trapping for JB has occurred for many years. Approximately 12,000 traps are placed and monitored statewide during the JB flight season. General residential trapping for JB is currently conducted at two traps per square mile. If a JB is detected, then intensive trapping is triggered. The objective is to determine the extent and epicenter of an infestation. The trap density is increased to 50 traps within the one-square-mile core surrounding each adult find (0.5-mile radius). This may be increased to 100, 160 or 640 traps to further refine the data about the population if additional beetles are detected, and additional traps may be placed in the buffers. In addition, the trap density is 25 traps per square mile in a one-mile buffer area surrounding the core, and five traps per square mile in a two-mile buffer area surrounding this buffer, thereby resulting in a 49-square-mile area (3.5-mile radius). Traps in the core are monitored daily and buffer traps are monitored at least once during the first week following a detection, and all traps are monitored weekly thereafter. Visual surveys may occur up to 400 meters around each detection. High hazard JB trapping is also conducted around airports and DHL/FedEx/UPS facilities. In California, trapping at airports was first implemented in 1945.

California JB Infestation History

Despite the numerous instances in which our efforts have succeed in keeping JB from entering California, the pest has been introduced into and caused incipient infestations several times in the state. The following is a chronology of JB eradications in California. Each time JB has been introduced, it has been successfully eradicated. The fact that JB has been introduced numerous times into the state and subsequently eradicated supports the contention that JB can be successfully eradicated from the two current infestations in Sacramento County.

Japanese Beetle Eradications in California

Year(s) of Finds	City	County	Adults	Larvae
1951*	Lennox (LAX)	Los Angeles	1	0
1954*	Hawthorne (LAX)	Los Angeles	1	0
1956*	Fairfield (TAFB)	Solano	1	0
1961-1962	Sacramento/West Sacramento	Sacramento/Yolo	449	71
1973-1974	Balboa Park	San Diego	24	0
1974*	San Diego (SAN)	San Diego	1	0
1983-1984**	Orangevale/Citrus Heights	Sacramento	93	8
2002*	Rancho Cordova (MHF)	Sacramento	5	0
2006-2007	Vista	San Diego	3	0
2010-2012, 2014	Fair Oaks	Sacramento	10	0
2014-2015	Carmichael	Sacramento	10	0
2015	Sunnyvale	Santa Clara	2	0
2019-2022	Sacramento/Rancho Codova	Sacramento	240	0

* = Trapped at or near Los Angeles Airport (LAX), Mather Field Airport (MHF), San Diego Airport (SAN), or Travis Air Force Base (TAFB). Considered quarantine treatments at point of introduction.

** = This was the only time CDFA implemented a JB Interior Quarantine, from 1983-87.

JB Detected in Sacramento County
1987 to 2015

The two lists below include all beetles trapped or visually collected in the environment in Sacramento County since 1987 (the earliest year for which records have been entered into the CDFA electronic records database). The lists do not include beetles found on planes during inspections.

A. High Hazard Detections - Trapped

This list summarizes the JB trapped at or just outside the two major airports for cargo planes in Sacramento County, namely Sacramento International (SMF) and Mather Field (MHF). They are presumed to be the result of JB leaving the planes upon arrival, so they normally do not trigger treatments. However, because there were five beetles in 2002 at Mather Field, the CDFA did treat the turf on the airport and 16 bordering trailer park properties with imidacloprid that year as a precaution.

Year	Detections	Location
1991	1	SMF
1996	2	MHF and SMF
2000	1	MHF
2002	5	MHF
2003	2	MHF and SMF
2005	1	SMF
2006	2	MHF
2011	1	SMF
2012	1	MHF
2017	5	MHF and SMF
2018	54	MHF and SMF
2019	5	MHF and SMF
2020	3	MHF and SMF
2023	2	SMF
2024	2	SMF

B. Residential Detections - Trapped or Visual

This list summarizes the JB trapped or collected visually in residential neighborhoods outside of the high hazard airport trapping in Sacramento County.

Year	Detections	Location and Comments
1999	1	Fair Oaks; 2.5 miles SE of current Fair Oaks and 4.3 miles NE of current Carmichael infestations; trapped; no treatment
1998	1	Carmichael; 620 meters NE of first find in current Carmichael project; adult reportedly collected by resident who turned it in said it was collected at that address "a number of years ago"; no treatment
2010	1	Fair Oaks; trapped; treatment occurred
2011	2	Fair Oaks; trapped; treatment occurred
2012	4	Fair Oaks; trapped; treatment occurred
2014	3	Fair Oaks; trapped; treatment occurred
2014	3	Carmichael; trapped; treatment occurred
2015	7	Carmichael; trapped; treatment occurred
2020	88	Sacramento and Rancho Cordova; trapped; treatment occurred
2021	139	Sacramento and Rancho Cordova; trapped; treatment occurred
2022	9	Sacramento and Rancho Cordova; trapped; treatment occurred

Pesticide Monitoring

At the project sites impartial third-party monitoring is conducted. A pesticide monitoring program is used to evaluate program effectiveness and environmental impact. Pesticide monitoring is a cooperative effort involving state and county personnel. The evaluation is designed to effectively address agency, cooperator, and public concerns.

The Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner's Pesticide Use Enforcement staff makes regular inspections of mixing/loading, equipment and treatment activities, and pesticide container storage.

CDPR's Division of Pest Management Environmental Hazards Assessment Program staff monitor for detectable levels of pesticides in and around treatment areas. This may include sampling of air, foliage, food crops, water, soil, or other media. Monitoring results will indicate program effectiveness by measuring persistence of pesticides in pest host materials, and discover any environmental impacts by measuring residues in non-target environmental components.

CDFA has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the State Water Resources Control Board to ensure no pollutants are discharged into a body of water. CDFA has never failed to comply with the terms of its NPDES permit.

Japanese Beetle (JB)

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Japanese Beetle Project Decisions

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Japanese Beetle Detections

Japanese Beetle Research

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Larvae damage to turf

Adult damage to urban trees

PDR, Rejections and Interception Totals for 2005-2019

JB Airport Interceptions

Japanese Beetle Eradications in California

A. High Hazard Detections - Trapped

B. Residential Detections - Trapped or Visual

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