Pesky Japanese beetles back with a big appetite

Those pesky Japanese beetles are still annoying Central Illinois gardeners and farmers, but aren’t devouring as many plants as last year.

"They have such a large host range, so they’re not only going to be in your yard feeding on trees, but they can feed on fruits and vegetables, so it can affect people everywhere," said Kelly Estes, an entomologist at the University of Illinois. "It’s a common enemy for lots of people."

The beetles, about a half-inch long and metallic-colored, can damage everything from backyard flower gardens to soybean and corn fields. Estes has heard the beetles are heavier through Springfield and the western portion of Illinois, "but aren’t too bad in Central Illinois." The Pantagraph

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