Help detect and prevent Japanese beetle spread

Cassie Cichorz
WSDA Pest Program

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is asking the public to help prevent the spread of Japanese beetle.  

Japanese beetle is a non-native pest that feeds on over 300 plants by skeletonizing leaves. Their larvae feed on plant roots below the surface. Japanese beetles can lay many eggs in a cycle, making them difficult to control or eradicate. Japanese beetle would pose a serious threat to farms, gardens, and the environment if they became established in Washington State.

In Grandview, a resident reported picking as many as 75 beetles from her roses in a single day in 2020. WSDA trapped over 24,000 beetles in the same area in 2021. WSDA is conducting an eradication of this pest and is asking residents to respond by reporting, trapping, and providing treatment consent. 

What can you do?

If you are in Washington, you can monitor for this pest by being on the lookout. If you see Japanese beetle, please report it! 

Adults – seen in summer

• 1/3 – ½ inch long
• Metallic green head and thorax
• Copper wing covers

Larvae (grubs) – seen in spring

• 1/8 – 1 inch long
• Brown/tan head with legs
• Found in soil, especially in lawns

Take a picture of the pest, and note the location. Then visit our online reporting form to upload. You can also report by email at PestProgram@agr.wa.gov, or call 1-800-443-6684. 

If you reside in Grandview, you only need to report when trapping for beetles. 

Yakima and Benton County residents

In addition to monitoring and reporting for Japanese beetle, you can trap beetles yourself!

Trapping will catch adult beetles, which can lower their current population, and is another way to control this pest. A wide variety of traps are available for purchase, or you can make one yourself. 

Japanese beetle drop-off container in Grandview

WSDA suggests placing traps from mid-May through mid-October when the adult beetles are active. When placing a trap, remember to keep it on your property. Make sure to check your trap periodically and replace as needed. 

If you capture any beetles, please report them. You can report by leaving the catch at the drop-off location, or sending in a report.

If you live near Grandview, a drop-off cooler has been placed inside Blehyl Co-op at 940 E Wine Country Road. The cooler is located inside the entrance of the store on the left. Please write the trap’s address on your collection.

If you are not near the drop-off location, take a picture of your trap capture and note the trap’s location. Then upload that information to our online reporting form, email PestProgram@agr.wa.gov, or call 1-800-443-6684.

Treatment area residents

If you live in or around the Grandview area, you may be inside the 49-square-mile treatment zone. You can help prevent the spread of Japanese beetles by not moving items on which they can travel and spread. 

Japanese beetle eggs and larvae live in the soil below the surface, so don’t move soil or fill, and leave soil on site. Also if you have any potted or outdoor plants, do not move them.

Adult beetles can travel on waste or debris from yards, gardens, and other horticulture activities. If you landscape or garden, leave your lawn clippings, leaves, weeds, and garden debris in the treatment area. 

Free treatment

Free treatments for Japanese beetle are continuing in the Grandview area. This helps prevent the establishment of this invasive pest. You can give consent to have your property treated by going to agr.wa.gov/beetles. You will need to provide your unique property ID number. If you need help obtaining this, contact us at PestProgram@agr.wa.gov or 1-800-443.6684.

WSDA has hired a contractor to apply the treatment, and our staff will be in the field monitoring the treatment progress. Treatments are relatively fast and you do not need to be home for the process.

Stay connected

WSDA is dedicated to working with the public to provide information on Japanese beetle. WSDA has taken pictures of the pest around the Grandview area, to view images please visit flickr.com/wsdagov.

View the Pest Alert for Japanese beetle. 

• Join the Japanese beetle Facebook group.
• Join the Pest Program email listserv.

Follow WSDA on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter

This summer, "adopt a wasp" to help monitor for Asian giant hornets

Cassie Cichorz
Pest Program

WSDA invites you to help watch for Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia) this summer. Join our new citizen science project to adopt a structure with paper wasp nests and observe the nests weekly from June through October. If you'd like to do even more, WSDA will continue to invite residents to participate in citizen scientist trapping for hornets too.

Over the last two years, residents of Whatcom County have noticed hornets attacking paper wasp nests. In 2021, WSDA tracked a hornet and observed it repeatedly visiting the same paper wasp nest. Each visit lasted five to ten minutes and the hornet removed paper wasp larvae.  

Paper wasps can grow to about ¾ of an inch long and have a well-defined “wasp waist” that makes them easy to identify. Paper wasps are typically not aggressive and do not readily attack people, but they can sting if threatened. They form small colonies and build hanging, open comb nests on building eaves, frames, abandoned cars, or branches of trees and shrubs. Paper wasp nests vary in size and are usually gray to brown in color. They are made up of many exposed cells that are less than an inch deep. Nests typically range from the size of a quarter to as wide as a coffee can lid, but can be larger.

Although we invite anyone in Washington to participate in adopting a paper wasp nest, we are particularly interested in observations from Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, Snohomish, King, Jefferson, and Clallam counties.

LOCATE

Starting in June, locate nests that you have access to and can monitor through October. Log the nest locations using the Adopt A Paper Wasp Registration Form. After submission, you’ll receive an email confirmation which will include a unique Site ID assigned to your nest location. You will need to save this Site ID to use during weekly check-ins. (Please do not register any sites before June 1.) Click here to access the registration form. When you register, you’ll have the option to sign up for weekly email reminders to check your wasp nests. You can also sign up for weekly text reminders by texting JOIN WASP to 1-800-443-6684.

MONITOR

Each week visit the nests, observe, and report online if any hornet or wasp activity is happening at the nest. WSDA asks you to monitor the nests for at least five minutes during the day once per week, but you can check the nests for as long and often as you would like. 

REPORT

After monitoring you will need to report each of your observations on the Paper Wasp Nest Check-in form. You will also need your Site ID that was received in a confirmation email. Click here to report and access the Check-in form.

However, if you think you spot an Asian giant hornet (it will be significantly larger than the paper wasps), safely take a photo and report it at agr.wa.gov/hornets or by emailing hornets@agr.wa.gov.

Stay Connected

WSDA is dedicated to working with the public and to providing information on Asian giant hornets.

·        Join the Asian giant hornet Facebook group.

·        Join the Pest Program email listserv.

Follow WSDA on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. 

State veterinarian confirms rabbit hemorrhagic disease in King County

Amber Betts
Communications

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) state veterinarian’s office has confirmed the presence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus type 2 (RHDV2), in a King County rabbit.  RHDV2 is a highly contagious, fatal rabbit disease.

A private veterinarian tested the rabbit, which was housed exclusively indoors, after sudden deaths were reported. The premises is under quarantine and has implemented biosecurity measures.

RHDV2 history in Washington

In 2019, RHDV2 killed hundreds of feral domestic and domestic rabbits in Island and Clallam counties. Before then, the disease was designated as a foreign animal disease (FAD). If FADs are detected, there are a number of restrictions and emergency rules put into effect. Because of that outbreak, the virus is now considered stable-endemic, which means it already exists in the environment. Since the outbreak three years ago, 15 additional states have reported detections in either wild or domestic rabbits. As of April 2022, RHDV2 has been confirmed in wild and domestic rabbits in nearly 20 states nationwide.

Because the disease now exists generally in the environment, there won’t be any additional restrictions or rules set into place with this detection.

Vaccine available

Late last year the state vet’s office authorized the emergency use of a vaccine for RHDV2, which is now available to all Washington veterinarians. The vaccine has been shown to be protective against RHDV2. The vaccine must be administered by a Washington licensed veterinarian.

State Veterinarian Dr. Amber Itle is calling all rabbit owners to ask their veterinarians about the vaccine and to have their rabbits vaccinated as soon as possible. Due to the contagious and extremely infectious nature of this virus, vaccination is critical for disease control to protect our domestic and wild rabbit populations alike.   

“Remember to observe good biosecurity practices in addition to vaccinating your bunnies.  Be sure to isolate new additions for three weeks before commingling them with your colony and avoid contact with domestic and wild rabbits,” she said.

Veterinarians who would like to order the vaccine should contact Medgene labs directly at 605-697-2600.

For more information on RHDV2, biosecurity, and prevention, please visit WSDA’s Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease webpage.

Not so dandy – diverse plantings improve pollinator forage

Karla Salp
Communications

Dandelions with Mt. Adams in the background

Love them or hate them, this time of year dandelions are starting to bloom, leading to the oft-repeated claim that dandelions are a great source (sometimes also claimed the only source) of early spring blooms for honey bees and other pollinators. While dandelions can be an important source of pollen for bees if there is nothing else blooming, in reality, the plants lack some essential amino acids necessary for the proper development of the hive. Dandelions can indeed help bees survive when necessary, but alone honey bees cannot thrive on them.

If you want to help pollinators, it is best to have diverse flower sources that bloom throughout the year. Here are some ideas of things to plant that make a difference for bees all year long:

Trees for Bees

Honey bee on tree blossoms

Believe it or not, trees can be one of the best sources of forage for pollinators and can provide some of the greatest density of forage/acre for bees. Most people think of fruit trees – such as cherries, apples, and pears – as being good forage sources and indeed they are. But many other trees – such as maple, linden, and willow – are also a-buzz with bees when they are in bloom. The flowers may be tiny but trees produce thousands of them, providing a glut of forage for pollinators when in bloom. Tip: If you have space, plant a variety of trees that combined bloom over a long period of time.

Shrubs

Honey bee on lavender

In addition to trees, there are numerous native and cultivated shrubs that provide copious flowers for pollinators. In Western Washington, there are several plants that will bloom even in the winter months – well before the dandelions show their sunny petals. Native plants like the red flowering currant and serviceberry are pollinator favorites. But cultivated shrubs like lilac, blueberries, and lavender also provide excellent sources. Shrubs are great for any yard and because they are generally much smaller than trees, most people have room for at least one shrub in their garden.

Flowers (of course)

While they don’t provide the quantity of forage found with trees and shrubs, flowers remain an important source of food for pollinators. The best part is that virtually everyone can plant flowers for pollinators, even if you only have a small pot on a balcony. Honey bees tend to prefer daisy-like flowers with flat, open surfaces, but plant a variety of flowers with different shapes to attract and support a wider range of pollinators. Clover is one type of flower that honey bees particularly like. Allowing clover to remain in your lawn provides not only forage for pollinators but it does double-duty and fixes nitrogen for your lawn as well!

Variety is the spice of pollinators’ lives

Bumblebee on berry flower

Like humans, some pollinators like honey bees need a varied diet for optimum nutrition and health. Some pollinators are specialists and rely on one type of plant as their sole food source. If you want to support a wide variety of different pollinators, including honey bees, aim to grow a variety of different plants that bloom at all different times of the year. Dandelions may bring a bee to your yard, but year-round blooms will keep them there.

For more information on helping pollinators in Washington State, visit agr.wa.gov/pollinators to learn more about WSDA’s Pollinator Health Task Force. 

Risky business: New WSDA program protects gardens, farms, and environment from prohibited plant sales

Karla Salp
Communications

Illegal plant sales can introduce or spread new pests, 
such as this lily leaf beetle which was found
in gardens near Bellevue. 

Skyrocketing online sales since the start of the pandemic put further pressure on a known potential pathway for invasive plants and plant diseases to enter our state: illegal plant sales.

The problematic issue came into the public eye in July of 2020 when reports of seed packets from China and other countries – some solicited and some not – became widespread both in the U.S. and abroad.

The WSDA Plant Services Program had long been grappling with this challenge – occasionally receiving reports from Washington consumers about illegal plant sales on social media and through online retailers but not having a clear path forward on how to effectively respond to complaints. 

Fast forward to 2021 when WSDA started a first-of-its-kind program to directly address the issue of illegal online sales of prohibited plants: the Online Enforcement Program. With funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Plant Services Program was able to dedicate the majority of one inspector’s time – Tristan Carette-Meyers – to work with vendors to stop these illegal sales. 

The problem – illegal plants threaten gardens, farms, and the environment

Blueberry scorch virus is one of the diseases
WSDA is trying to prevent in Washington
Photo credit: WSU Whatcom County Extension

While it may seem that selling plants should be helping, rather than harming, the environment, that is not always the case.

The sale of certain plants has been prohibited in Washington because their invasive nature can overwhelm and out-compete native plants. This has a downstream effect that impacts not only local plants but animals, food sources, habitat, and more.

Secondly, the movement of some uncertified plants into Washington has been prohibited because they pose a risk to the existing plants and the agriculture industry. For example, blueberry plants cannot be shipped into Washington unless certified disease-free. Washington is currently the top producer of blueberries in the country. If diseased or infested plants were to enter the state through unauthorized sales, it could decimate an entire industry to the tune of millions of dollars annually.

But it is not only farmers who would suffer. Gardeners and others who try to eat locally sourced food would soon be forced to look elsewhere for blueberries that would otherwise grow quite readily throughout the state.

The consumer-awareness solution

Protecting the state from the threat that illegal plant sales pose requires both the public and the state to take action.

Whether the plant itself may be invasive or might introduce a plant pest, consumers would be wise to protect their own gardens as well farms and the environment by educating themselves about the state’s plant quarantines.

Also, be discerning about where you purchase plants. Sales through social media or online are the riskiest – there are just too many for WSDA to monitor and many are not official businesses, making them difficult to track or contact. The few dollars you may save will rapidly evaporate should the plant you buy take over your garden or introduce a new pest or disease.

Buying from reputable, licensed, local nurseries familiar with the state plant and pest quarantines dramatically reduces the risk that the plant you buy will turn out to be Pandora’s box of problems.

While buying local does decrease your risk, you don’t have to stop shopping online altogether. Just be sure to ask the online vendor questions about the plant and their knowledge of Washington plant quarantines. A reputable vendor will be familiar with them; you may want to shop elsewhere if they can't answer your questions satisfactorily.

The vendor-awareness solution

Amazon is one vendor that has taken steps to prevent
the shipment of quarantined plants into Washington.

While consumers can take steps to protect themselves by ensuring they purchase from reputable distributors, WSDA’s new program has already been hard at work. Since it started last October, the Online Enforcement Program has contacted over 1,200 vendors about over 1,600 potential plant sale violations.

The program has focused its efforts on both big and small businesses – everything from eBay to Etsy. For example, due to the program’s efforts, Amazon and eBay have now established filters to prevent the sale of prohibited plants and other products from being available for shipment to Washington. WSDA has also provided materials to these companies to provide to their vendors to prevent future violations.

Because of their size, these platforms not only have the potential to sell the most plants illegally, but correcting those problems also has the potential to have the greatest benefit in protecting our state’s nursery and agriculture industry.

On Etsy, the program reaches out to individual sellers about potential violations. Etsy vendors have been particularly responsive.

When buying plants, safety first

Buying plants is one of the simple pleasures in life that can help people create their dream gardens. By working together, WSDA and consumers can prevent those dreams from turning into the nightmare of unexpected invasive plants, pests, and diseases. If you notice illegal plant sales – whether in-person or online – email nursery@agr.wa.gov to provide details (including links if it is online) about the incident.

3/21/23 Update: Since it started in July 2021, the Online Enforcement Program has contacted nearly 1,500 vendors about over 2,200 potential plant sale violations.