Larvicide treatment for Japanese Beetle underway in St. John's, none have been detected on the west coast

    Monday, 23 June 2025 12:00

    By Tonya Organ

    The larvicide being used is called Acelepryn, and it isn’t harmful to humans or pets.

    A larvicide treatment is underway in St.John’s today after Japanese beetle were discovered there earlier this month, however, west coast areas are safe…for now. That’s according to Sabrina Ellsworth who is the Director of Agriculture Production and Research  with the department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture. She says the larvicide being used is called Acelepryn, and it isn’t harmful to humans or pets. 

    The Canadian Food Inspection Agency set out 80 traps but Ellsworth says none have been detected on the west coast.  Japanese Beetles can spread quickly, especially via wind, or through transportation of soil and plants. Ellsworth says if not controlled, this insect poses a serious threat to agriculture, horticulture, landscaping and forestry industries. 

    The Japanese beetle is about 1 cm long with an oval body. The head is metallic in colour but the wings are a coppery brown. Distinct features are five tufts of white hair along each side of its abdomen.

     

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