Vancouver employs insecticide to battle invasive Japanese beetle

Vancouver's Park Board closed down apark in the city's core Sunday as the first step in a spraying program against a destructive andinvasive beetle.

Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica, werefirst discoveredin B.C. in Vancouver's False Creek in 2017.

It isan invasivepest that feeds on the roots of grass and the foliage of more than 300 plant species, ultimately causing the plants to die.

Howard Normann, the director of parks for Vancouver, says the beetle is a real threatto a variety of plants.

"It has the potential to do a lot of damage. And not just to the trees you see here, but to other crops around the Lower Mainland," he said."They will basically strip the foliage off a plant pretty quickly."

• Beetlemania: Vancouver to begin treating parks for invasive pest

The beetles fly and are able to cover great distances in search of food sources.

The Park Board is using a Japanese-beetle specific insecticide,called Acelepryn, to battlethe pest.

Normann says the insecticide doesn't affect bees, butterflies, animals or people, but targets the larva of Japanese beetles, which overwinter in soil.

Workersnot wearing masks or any discernible protective clothing began sprayingDavid Lam Park on Sunday, marking the beginning of their eradication efforts.

In all, the Park Board plans to treat 70 hectares around the city, which include the downtown area, West End, Strathcona, Mount Pleasant, Fairview and Kitsilano.

Vancouver Park Board sprays for invasive beetle

5 years ago

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The city began its 2019 spraying campaign for Japanese beetles, Popillia japonica, at David Lam Park on Sunday, April 7, 2019.

Since the beetle was discovered, the City of Vancouver along with the province and the federal government have worked together on measures to prevent its spread.

They've sprayedlarvicide to kill the grubs, trapped adults,restricted the movement of plants and soil and have asked people to report sightings.