Invasive Species in Oregon
According to the Oregon Invasive Species Council:
“Invasive species are animals, plants, and microorganisms that are not native to Oregon and once here can reproduce so vigorously that they replace our native species. They pose a threat to key sectors of Oregon's economy that depend upon natural resources and native ecosystems. Agriculture, forestry, tourism, and water resource infrastructure, including hydropower facilities, are at serious risk of being adversely impacted by invasive species. Unchecked, invasive species individually and collectively have the potential to imperil public health and to transform ecosystems, resulting in widespread economic and environmental devastations.”
Threat to Oregon
Like many invasive species, Japanese beetles don't have natural predators in the United States to control their population. In the Eastern and Midwestern U.S., these beetles cause large-scale destruction to garden plants and agricultural crops.
Since the Japanese beetle is a major threat to important industries in Oregon, such as nurseries, turf grass, and specialty crops, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is working hard to stop the beetle from spreading by using quarantines and treatments. The overall goal of eradication is to protect Oregon’s farming and agricultural livelihood from harmful, invasive pests like the Japanese Beetle.
This invasive beetle can cause damage at different stages of its life. As a grub, it feeds on the roots of grasses, which weakens the plant and prevents it from getting enough water, creating brown or dead patches in lawns. As an adult beetle, it eats the leaves, leaving a pattern called “skeletonizing,” which causes the leaves to break down and fall off. Plants like roses, grapes, fruit trees, and berry bushes are especially vulnerable to this kind of damage.
When plants lose their leaves, they not only become more likely to get diseases, but they also become stressed, have higher death rates, and can’t make as much food through photosynthesis. Without photosynthesis, important environmental benefits like clean air, healthy water in rivers and streams, and temperature control through shade are also affected.
The Eradication Project
When a new invasive species is found, an eradication project may be initiated to remove all life stages of the pest (adults, larvae, and eggs) and prevent it from spreading. The methods used for eradication depend on the pest’s biology and characteristics. If we don’t get rid of the pest, it could become established and remain in the state forever. The sooner an invasive species is detected, the better. Sometimes, early detection can catch just 1-2 pests. Biological experts use risk models and their knowledge of insect biology to determine if an eradication project is needed to protect the state from the devastating effects of an invasive species. Early detection and prevention programs are a critical part of protecting our state from invasive species.
When the Japanese beetle population was discovered in the Cedar Mill, Bonny Slope, Oak Hills, and Bethany areas in Washington County, the population was small enough that it might still be possible to eradicate them.