Japanese Beetle Eradication
Summer Japanese Beetle Spraying in Expanded Treatment Zone Set for September
Mesa County is conducting a second round of grub treatment in areas where adult Japanese beetles were trapped during the summer of 2023. The targeted zones are north Grand Junction between 24 Rd & 27 Rd, and neighborhoods in the West Lake area, Pear Park, and the Redlands.
Residents in the targeted zones who submitted their Consent to Spray form by September 1 will be contacted for treatment beginning September 6.
All Mesa County residents are encouraged to apply a late season grub treatment to their lawns if they have not already had a grub treatment this year.
Infestation Area
Japanese Beetle Treatment Zone interactive map
- The borders of the general infestation are 24 Road and Horizon Drive between G Road and H Road.
- Properties outlined in red are subject to eradication efforts.
- Homeowners in this area will be contacted to give their consent for Mesa County to complete free Japanese Beetle grub control treatments on their lawn.
Eradication Plan
Mesa County Commissioners have declared Japanese Beetle as a public nuisance pest requiring control or eradication.
- Noxious Weed and Pest Management is working with industry and government entities to implement eradication efforts and support property owners.
- County has approved funding to cover the cost of grub control treatments in the area where a Japanese Beetle infestation has been identified.
Grub Control Treatment
- Public parks in the City and County will receive grub treatments.
- Property owners in the infestation area will be sent an informational letter and consent form to allow grub control treatment on their property.
- County will approve a contract for turf management companies to complete treatments in the infected area.
- Turf management companies will include grub control in turf management plans for current customers in the infested area. The cost of these treatments will be reimbursed by Mesa County.
- The first round of Mesa County funded grub treatments will occur during the months of April-June.
- Mesa County funded treatments will be completed by a licensed and registered commercial applicator.
- Follow up grub treatments may occur in August and September.
Information and Resources
- Property owners outside of the infestation area can prevent Japanese Beetle establishment in their area by completing grub control treatments with homeowner formulations or contacting a local turf management company.
- Educational support is being provided by Colorado State University Extension Services.
This instructional video will guide you through applying grub control granules.
Homeowners' Resources
Licensed Commercial Applicators for Lawn Care
Japanese Beetle in Mesa County - English Version.pdf
Japanese Beetle in Mesa County - Spanish Version.pdf
Colorado State University Extension Information
- Tri-River Area Colorado State University Extension
- Japanese Beetle Fact Sheet from Colorado State University Extension
Trapping and Monitoring
- Trapping and monitoring is being provided by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
- Homeowners can consent to have a monitoring trap placed on their property by completing the Consent Form.
- Trapping completed in 2023 will inform ongoing eradication plans.
- We can begin to determine effectiveness of treatments based on 2023 and 2024 trapping numbers.
- Japanese Beetle traps allow us to track beetle populations as they change over time.
- A robust network of traps allows us to make informed decisions about future eradication efforts.
- You can help us manage the spread of Japanese Beetle by allowing a trap to be placed on your property.
- Please use the consent form to sign up for the trapping program.
- Note: Traps will be placed where they are needed to collect monitoring data, so every property may not receive a trap.
Frequently Asked Questions
- The Japanese Beetle is an invasive insect that causes over $460,000,000 worth of damages per year in eastern states.
- It feeds on over 300 species of desirable plants including grapes, peaches, roses, apples, sweet corn, trees, and turf grass.
- This pest is well established east of the Rocky Mountains which are a natural barrier to their spread.
- It is not established in the western states, and its movement is regulated by state and federal quarantines which prohibit the movement of infested plant materials to unaffected areas.
- When populations are discovered in western states they must be eradicated to prevent further establishment.
Images and detailed information about Japanese Beetle biology can be found on the “identification” page.
- Mesa County has secured initial funding to complete grub control treatments on all irrigated turf in the infested area.
- We will be seeking property owner consent to treat their lawns and eradicate Japanese Beetles in the grub stage.
- We are working with CSU Extension and the Colorado Department of Agriculture to promote awareness and expand opportunities for eradication efforts.
- This will be a multi-year effort.
- Mesa County will work with our partners to expand management options for homeowners.
In short, everyone in Mesa County!
- The Japanese Beetle feeds on a wide variety of plants that improve our lives. The spread of this beetle will affect everybody, whether you're growing 100 acres of peaches or have a small lawn and a rosebush.
- Japanese Beetles will damage or kill irrigated turf in lawns, parks, and golf courses as a grub.
- Property owners will see damage to turf from April-October.
- The adult beetles emerge and feed on many desirable ornamental and agricultural plants throughout the summer months.
- Adult beetles will destroy vegetable gardens, ornamental plants, and trees.
- Fruit growers will experience crop losses and increased production costs due to Japanese Beetle damage.
- We want to eradicate the Japanese Beetle to protect our economy and the quality of life for our residents.
- If this beetle spreads to our fruit growers it will decimate the agricultural production of Mesa County.
- This industry is one of the primary drivers of our economy.
- Such a large impact to fruit and wine production will have secondary effects on our tourism, plant exports, and retail industries.
- Japanese Beetles will impact residents by destroying lawns, gardens, and trees on landscaped properties.
- Additionally, they swarm and feed in groups on desirable plants. In this regard they can be a very unpleasant pest to have on your property.
Please contact Mesa County at 970-902-9336 or jb@mesacounty.us and continue to follow us for updates.
- You can be proactive and complete grub control treatments on your lawn.
- Information about homeowner applied treatments is available in the “Homeowner Resources” section of this page.
- You can also request preventative grub control treatments from a lawn care company.
If you are experiencing damage to turf and ornamental plants this season and find adult Japanese Beetles, please contact CSU extension services to confirm the identification.
- Acelepryn is a reduced risk pesticide that provides long lasting grub control when applied from April-June.
- When it is applied correctly, it is considered safe to use around humans, pets, birds, bees, and other pollinators.
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