2022 Treatments


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The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) Pest Program treated 2,083 properties totaling to 1,089 acres in 2022. This completes all Japanese beetle treatments this year.
WSDA would like to thank residents for support during Japanese beetle treatments to help protect Washington from invasive species.

Japanese beetle eradication project: 2022

This video below summarizes WSDA's efforts in 2022 to eradicate the infestation of Japanese beetle in Central Washington. We also take a look ahead into plans for 2023.
See the Frequently Asked Questions below about treatment.
WSDA uses the insecticide Acelepryn®. It kills certain pests in their grub (larval) state in the soil. It is a "reduced risk" pesticide according to the Washington State Department of Health. It is not considered a health risk for humans, pets, wildlife, or other insects that don't go through a larval state in soil (including pollinators like bees). For more information visit Washington State Department of Health's website on Japanese beetle treatment.
Yes, you must provide consent each year. Thank you for your support!
  • You are welcome to but do not need to be home.
  • The treatment may take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. in April, May, or June.
  • You will be notified before the treatment via the contact information you provide on your consent form.
  • Please make sure your lawn is clear
  • Please unlock your gates
  • If possible, have your lawn mowed.
  • Residents and animals should be kept away from the treatment area until dry

If you are home, representatives can answer any questions. Once the area is dry it is safe to re-enter.

  • A sign will be left notifying you that your treatment is complete. 
  • If possible, please refrain from mowing your lawn immediately after treatment.
Renters have the authority to consent to treatment for property in which they physically dwell. You are, of course, welcome to discuss the project with your landlord.
Although the applications are done in the spring, you won’t see the full effect until the following year, so you will likely still see beetles in the area, and it will likely take several treatments before the beetle can be totally eradicated. We need all properties to agree to treatment to succeed. If we are unable to treat a neighboring property, beetles from that property are likely to show up in your yard, too. This is why it is important to encourage your neighbors, friends, and family in treatment areas to agree to have their property treated.
Untreated properties become a haven for beetles, prolonging their ability to remain in the state. Because of this, WSDA may seek administrative warrants through the courts to treat properties that decline or do not respond to treatment requests.
We don’t have to guess about the impacts this beetle will have on our state; we need only look at states that have permanent infestations of the beetle. Farmers and plant nurseries are subject to expensive and restrictive quarantines to move their products, as well as increased pesticide costs to manage the beetle. Residents must deal with the pest in their lawns and gardens as well, either increasing pesticide use or manually removing the beetles – some even using vacuums because of the sheer number of beetles. Visitors and tourists must also deal with the beetles being a nuisance flying into them while trying to enjoy the outdoors. We can avoid all this by eradicating the beetles now.
Japanese beetle grubs live in soil. Adults lay eggs in lawns and soil where you can’t see them. We deploy thousands of traps in the area to catch Japanese beetle adults and to help prevent them from laying as many eggs. Our trapping can help keep adults off your plants and trees where you might see them. Applications are the only way to treat the grubs, that is why it is important to sign up for treatments to target the pest before you see it.

Planned treatment areas

Are you located in a Japanese beetle treatment area? View the 2022 treatment map below or enter your address in the interactive map to see if you are in a planned treatment area.
Please note that if any portion of a property falls within the treatment zone, the entire property will be treated. Acelepryn® will not be applied to land within the 200 ft shoreline buffer area.

 
If you are having trouble loading the map, click here to open it in Arc-GIS

Virtual Open House

The Washington State Department of Agriculture Pest Program gives an update about the Japanese beetle situation in Yakima and Benton counties.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Acelepryn® G and Acelepryn® have an excellent safety record when used as directed. You can limit contact with the product by following the safety recommendations:
  • Avoid the area and keep pets inside until the treatment has dried.
  • If you come in contact with the pesticide, wash the affected skin with soap and water.
  • Remove and wash exposed clothing. Keep and wash clothing separate from other laundry.
  • Experts do not expect health concerns from eating produce grown in Acelepryn® G or Acelepryn®-treated soil.
Talk to your health care provider if you have health concerns related to Acelepryn® G or Acelepryn®.
If you’d like information about the product used for treatment, visit the Washington State Department of Health's website.

Click the buttons below to open treatment and health handouts
 

 

Stay Informed

Sign up for Japanese beetle project updates to stay informed. If you need help please call 1-800-443-6684 or email pest@agr.wa.gov

Text messages

Sign up to receive text messages by using the keyword below
 
  English keywords Spanish keywords
Text 1-800-443-6684 JOIN ENG JOIN SPA

E-mail

Join the Japanese beetle e-mail list

Facebook Group

Join the WA State Japanese Beetle Facebook group 

Environmental Documents Available

A determination of non-significance (DNS) has been issued under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Rules. After review of a completed environmental checklist, WSDA has determined this proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. The site-specific environmental checklist are available at the links below.
Yakima County SEPA
Japanese Beetle Harmonization Plan

Public Treatment

You can protect gardens by placing a trap nearby to capture any beetles that may from the soil. If you capture beetles, please report them.

Do not treat for Japanese beetle if you do not have the pest.

If you have beetles, you may be interested in extra self treatment. Please contact your local Washington State University Extension for information. Click the link below to open a self treatment handout

2022 Treatments

Treatments apply a “reduced risk” pesticide that is not considered a health risk for humans, pets, wildlife and other insects (including bees) that don't go through a larval stage in soil. You must sign up for treatments each year for every property that you own or rent. Multiple treatments are required to remove Japanese beetle.
Please take a few minutes to sign up. If you need help or your PIN, call 1-800-443-6684 or email pest@agr.wa.gov.


 

FAQ

View the most frequently asked questions about treatments
View the consent form in English
View the consent form in Spanish

FREE JAPANESE BEETLE TREATMENT

Click the button below to give consent and sign up for your free Japanese beetle treatment.