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Natural Resources Building
P.O. Box 42560
1111 Washington ST SE
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
Phone: (360) 902-1800

QUARANTINE

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What do you need today?

On August 15, 2024, the department adopted amendments to chapter 16-470 WAC and expanded the boundaries of the Japanese beetle internal quarantine. Read the latest press release.
A Japanese beetle quarantine handout is available. Click the links below to download the resource
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Fact Sheet For Growers [PDF 1 MB]
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Fact Sheet For Growers in Spanish [PDF 1 MB]
Per state regulations, moving yard waste, plants, and soil out of the quarantine zone is restricted. To learn more read our press release here.

Japanese beetle can impact farmers, growers, nurseries, and landscaping companies. If you work in Yakima, Benton, or Franklin counties you’ll want to prevent the spread of this invasive beetle. You may also need to learn how to follow the newly expanded and amended WAC 16-470 Japanese beetle quarantine. This webinar shared about Japanese beetle trapping, compliance agreements, and treatment consultation if necessary. Learn how you can help eradicate Japanese beetle and watch this webinar.

The Rule

The Japanese beetle quarantine is a rule. The rule prohibits movement of plants, soil, plant waste, and other items out of the quarantine area. This impacts parts of Yakima and Benton counties. Learn more about chapter 16-470 WAC. 

Prevent the spread

Community members and industry can all work together to protect agriculture and your backyard.

The invasive pest can be destructive in multiple life stages. As an adult, it feeds on leaves, flowers, and buds of plants. As a young grub, or larvae it lives in the soil and feeds on roots of grasses and other plants. If you move plants and soil you can spread Japanese beetle. They can move in potted plants, soil, yard debris, cut flowers, and other things.

Restrictions

The larvae live in soil, so moving dirt can transport them to new areas where they will emerge as adults. Adults feed on vegetative material, so it is important to leave that on sight, or treat it prior to moving.

See the table below for affected items

ALWAYS PROHIBITED PROHIBITED MAY 15 - OCT 15 NEVER PROHIBITED
  • Soil or sod (turf)
  • Plants not free from soil, such as mint roots, fruit trees and bushes, nursery stock, and potted plants
  • Hop bines and cones
  • Unshucked corn ears
  • Cut flowers
  • All plants and plant cuttings: brush, branches, roots, leaves, grass clippings, weeds, and other yard or farm waste
  • Dormant plants and bulbs free from all soil
  • Harvested and with no beetles present: cherries, apples, peaches, apricots, grapes, baled hay, grains, dried mint, processed hop cones



 
Click the links below to download a handout with the table
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Fact Sheet For Growers [PDF 1 MB]
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Fact Sheet For Growers in Spanish [PDF 1 MB]

There are additional steps you can take to not move beetles

  • Self-inspect vehicles for beetles prior to leaving areas where Japanese beetles have been found.
  • ​Tarp or cover trucks or shipments to prevent Japanese beetles from hitchhiking
  • Yard waste should be taken to a Yard Debris Drop-Off.
a map of the japanese beetle quarantine boundaries in parts of Yakima and Benton county

Compliance Agreement

If your operation moves items outside of the quarantine area, you are required to prove items are free of beetles BEFORE movement. Growers should work with WSDA to create operational agreements called compliance agreements.

  • Contact WSDA to place and monitor traps from May 15 - October 15 when adult beetles are active. If no beetles are present in WSDA-placed and monitored traps some articles may be moved without treatment.
or
  • Use an approved treatment process prior to movement. Treatment records detailing the application of an approved insecticide may be needed.

To learn more and to create an agreement contact Plant Services by emailing plantservices@agr.wa.gov or calling 360-902-1922 or 360-902-1874.

If your operation is outside of the quarantine area you can still monitor for Japanese beetles. Learn more on our detections and trapping webpage.

If you area a nursery or plant seller download  the Japanese Beetle Quarantine Area poster for display by clicking the button below.

 
See the Frequently Asked Questions below about Quarantine.
The internal quarantine prohibits the movement of regulated articles located inside the quarantine area from moving outside of it, unless they are treated in a manner described in the rule. This includes yard-debris, soil with vegetation, and other items.

You can read more about the rule on the Japanese Beetle Quarantine rulemaking page.
The quarantine zone is a specific boundary developed by Washington State Department of Agriculture based on trap catches of Japanese beetles and likelihood of spread. Quarantine is a tool of eradication. Certain items are restricted from moving outside of the boundary unless they are free of beetles. To view this year's treatment zone, visit WSDA's interactive map. 
If the internal quarantine is ignored, Japanese beetle may establish and not be eradicated. A commercial quarantine of nursery and agricultural products to nearby unifnested states would establish. This could add significant cost to local industries. The result of restrictions on out-of-state sales for nursery products and other agricultural products could be devastating to Washington's environment.
The department can expand the boundaries of the internal quarantine and amend restricted items within Washington State. You can read more about the emergency rule and process here. 
A Japanese beetle quarantine handout is available. Click the links below to download the resource
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Fact Sheet For Growers [PDF 1 MB]
Japanese Beetle Quarantine Fact Sheet For Growers in Spanish [PDF 1 MB]

CONSULTING

If you have Japanese beetle in or near your field, we suggest consulting your crop protection specialist or pesticide consultant to determine the best approach to protect your crop.

WSDA is working on a multi-year project to eradicate Japanese beetle, but it will take cooperation between growers, industry, and residents.

 

Interactive Map

Use the map below to view quarantine area. If you are having trouble loading the map, click here to open it in Arc-GIS.