Japanese Beetle

We can now add another garden beetle to our growing list. Like the Southern Masked Chafer (subfamily Dynastinae, Rhinoceros Beetles), the Japanese Beetle (subfamily Rutelinae, Shining Leaf Chafers) belongs to the Scarabaeidae family (Scarab Beetles). A member of the tribe Anomalini, its scientific name is Popillia japonica, and it is the only species of that genus that has been introduced to the US (1916).

The larvae of this beetle feed on the roots of plants, while the adults feed on the leaves, flowers, and fruit. In large numbers they can be quite destructive. So far I've only seen a couple in our yard, and they're so beautiful! I caught one munching on a flower cluster of our large butterfly bush (genus Buddleja) in the backyard. It was shy, though, so I didn't get all the angles I wanted. I'll post more photos if it returns.

References:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/473
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2504.html (fact sheet)
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2009/0630hodgson.htm (info & list of commonly mistaken beetles)
http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/Article0279.pdf (biology and management)
http://www.mosquito.rutgers.edu/jb.htm (early history in the US)
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/beetles/japanese_beetle.htm
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/jbidcard5-07.pdf (illustrated guide)
http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/japanesebeetle.htm (picture of damage)