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News Brief

July 2, 2025 |  By: Gavin McGough

Japanese Beetles are likely to spread throughout the summer

Japanese beetle on leaf

Japanese Beetle are cropping up across Missouri, according to the latest from the State Department of Agriculture. They've been reported in Holt County, here in the northwest, and are likely to spread throughout the summer.

Considered a pest by farmers and gardeners across the US, the beetles have an irridescent, copper-colored shell and dark green shoulders. They are known for big appetites and will eat the leaf matter of many garden plants and ornamental bushes.

They also pose a threat to soybean and corn crop. Starting on lower growth, the bugs will defoliate a bean crop. On ears of corn, the beetles feed on the silk, interfering with pollination and reducing yeilds.

Many farmers choose to apply pesticides when faced with the beetles. Farmers are encouraged to moniter their fields for the bug, and report any sightings to the University Extension's Office of Integrated Pest Management. Their website is IPM.Missouri.edu. 

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