A pest that can cause significant damage to plants and trees was detected in Abbotsford this summer, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
One Japanese beetle was discovered during “routine surveillance activity” in July, the CFIA said in a letter to the City of Abbotsford.
The letter said the detection was “well outside” of the Japanese beetle regulated areas in Burnaby, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver.
“Japanese beetle is an extremely damaging, regulated pest that feeds on the roots of turf grass and on the foliage of more than 300 plant species, including roses, fruit trees, grapevines and other common landscape and food plants,” the letter states.
“If this pest spreads, it could cause serious damage to B.C.’s agriculture sectors and ecosystem, and will cause significant damage to lawns, landscapes, golf courses, gardens and parks."
Mayor Ross Siemens told council at their meeting on Sept. 10 that city staff have met with the CFIA and are continuing to work with the agency to ensure the Japanese beetle is eradicated from the city.
A provincial Japanese beetle steering committee has been heading strategies on the control, treatment, communication and funding related to removing the pest from B.C.
The CFIA is responsible for surveillance to determine the extent of the problem and to oversee regulatory controls.
The agency says the pest has been found annually in B.C. since it was first detected in 2017 in the False Creek area of Vancouver.
“The spread of this beetle will result in increased costs to municipalities, industry and the public due to losses and Japanese beetle control measures,” the agency says.
There is only one generation of the Japanese beetle per year, with adults appearing in summer and being active for about six to eight weeks.
Their normal life span is 30 to 45 days.
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