Japanese Beetle Traps

Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed several bug traps placed around the Geneva Heights neighborhood. They look like an extra-wide lawn dart with yellow fins and a dark green shaft. Recently I discovered that these traps are collecting Japanese Beetles (Daily Herald article, Deseret News article). Each trap contains a pherimone sample for Japanese beetles which attracts the insect. The chemical mixture also sterilizes the beetle to prevent further outbreak. It sounds like more than 500 beetles have been collected over the last couple of weeks using these traps. The outbreak seems to be localized in Orem around Orem Community hospital. The State of Utah has already placed plants imported from several other states on quarantine to prevent an outbreak in Utah.

For more information on this hungry insect visit the Wikipedia entry on the Japanese beetle.

Update: Also came across an article in the Salt Lake Tribune: http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4223249.