Beetles once again sweeping across the country.

Out in the fields, Japanese beetles are taking over and invading another industry, they are becoming all too common among your crops. Japanese beetles prey on a wide range of crops and are causing problems for many growers.

Thankfully, the cooler temperatures from this year have slowed their growing momentum in the fields compared to last year. In 2012, adults started to emerge in late May, according to the Iowa State University’s article, Japanese Beetles Begin Emergence . This year, the beetles faced a later start, but they are starting to pop up in many areas.

Japanese beetles can cause considerable damage to your crops, so you should plan accordingly with your pest management plan if you find these pests in your field.

source: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2013/0620hodgsonkuntz.htm

In corn fields, Erin Hodgson and Cody Kuntz, in the ISU article, recommend considering a foliar insecticide during tasseling and silking if you find more than three beetles per ear. They also commonly feed between soybean leaf veins.

Scouting your fields on a regular basis as a part of your pest management plan can help you identify pests early on before they cause damage to your crops. As part of your scouting plan for Japanese beetles, you will need to evaluate the amount of defoliation of the plant leaves. This will help you determine when it is necessary to apply an insecticide treatment.

For more information about how to scout for Japanese beetles and how to make treatment decisions, check out this article from the University of Wisconsin or this article by the University of Missouri .