TRI-CITIES, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has released new statistics indicating a significant rise in Japanese beetle numbers in the Tri-Cities area.
In 2025, 2,407 Japanese beetles were caught compared to 410 the previous year.
Camilo Acosta, an eradication coordinator with WSDA, has been working to address the growing beetle problem. “Female Japanese beetle lives between 4 to 6 weeks. And in that time, she can lay between 40 to 60 eggs. So it’s quite a potential there for reproduction and an increase of that population year to year,” said Acosta.
The increase in beetle numbers poses a threat to local agriculture. These pests are known to feed on over 300 species of host plants, making them highly invasive. “The longer a pest persists in an area, the more difficult, the more expensive it gets to control that pest,” said Acosta.
To combat this issue, WSDA is offering free chemical treatments at the start of the beetle season. They are also educating the public on the importance of controlling the beetle outbreak to protect local crops and the economy.
For more information on pest control and prevention, visit the WSDA website.
