Japanese Beetle

Popillia japonica

Japanese Beetles are shiny green and bronze beetles. They love to munch on leaves and flowers in gardens!

Habitat: Gardens and fields

Appearance

The Japanese Beetle has a shiny, iridescent metallic green head and thorax. Its wing covers are coppery-brown, and it features five distinct patches of white hair along each side of its abdomen, with two more at the tip, making it visually unique.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyScarabaeidaeGenusPopillia

Japanese Beetle

Interesting facts

A single female Japanese beetle can lay up to 60 eggs in the soil during her short summer lifespan!

Japanese beetle grubs live underground for months, happily munching on grass roots before they become adult beetles.

These beetles were first accidentally brought to America hidden in a shipment of iris bulbs in 1916!

They can skeletonize leaves, eating only the soft parts and leaving behind just the veins, making plants look like lace!

Special abilities

Japanese Beetle can devour a wide variety of plants using powerful chewing mouthparts that help them feed quickly.

Japanese Beetle has special scent glands that release pheromones, helping them attract many other beetles to new food sources.

Japanese Beetle can fly swiftly with strong wings, allowing them to rapidly move between plants or escape from threats.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 12-15 mm
Size: 8-11 mm
Lifespan: 30-60 days
Flight Speed: 10 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These tiny plant-eaters munch on leaves, flowers, and fruits, causing damage to many different plants.

Age differences: Larvae (grubs) live underground, eating plant roots, while adults feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits above ground.

Primary Foods

Rose
Grape
Corn
Linden Tree
Apple Tree
Turfgrass Roots

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

European Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Adult beetles are a common food source for these adaptable birds.

parasitizes

Spring Tiphia Wasp

Tiphia vernalis

Wasp larvae grow inside and consume Japanese beetle grubs.

eats

Gallica Rose

Rosa gallica

Adult beetles feed heavily on rose leaves and flowers, causing damage.

eats

Corn

Zea mays

Beetles chew on corn silk, which can prevent successful pollination.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Diurnal

Wake up with creatures that are most active during the day! They love the sunshine for finding food, playing, and exploring.

Pollinator

Meet the busy helpers of the plant world! These creatures carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds and grow fruits and vegetables.