The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and industry stakeholders to respond to increased detections of Japanese beetle in the St. John’s area.

Japanese beetle, an invasive species in Canada, is regulated under the Plant Protection Act by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Pest Surveillance Program. The agency has detected isolated and sporadic occurrences of Japanese beetle in Newfoundland and Labrador since 2014. In 2024, Japanese beetles were detected in the environment in St. John’s, indicating potential overwintering since there is no evidence linking the detections to imported plant material, as in previous occurrences.

The department is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and other industry stakeholders to identify areas where Japanese beetle has been detected and to develop a treatment and eradication plan. An eradication program will include restrictions of soil and plant material around detected sites, and consideration of using a larvicide that has proven effective against Japanese beetle larvae and has no impact on mammals, birds, bees, pollinators, or other animals.

Japanese beetles can spread quickly, especially via wind, or through transportation of soil and plants. If not controlled, this insect poses a serious threat to agriculture, horticulture, landscaping and forestry industries, and may result in damage to lawns, sports fields and golf courses. Japanese beetle is known to feed on more than 300 plant species and has no natural predators.

Information on Japanese beetle, including survey sites, is available at Plant health survey report for 2024-2025.

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