An emerging pest is steadily gaining a foothold into landscapes along the Front Range, including the Fort Collins area, and the infestation is likely only going to get worse.
Like the emerald ash borer, Japanese beetles are a growing concern with few effective options to get rid of the pests. Unlike the emerald ash borer, the beetles are voracious feeders that have a long list of popular plants they damage — more than 300 — including turf grass, roses, vegetables, trees and agricultural crops, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
“Japanese beetle populations have increased and will continue to increase going forward,” Alison O’Connor, a Larimer County specialist in garden and lawn care at the Colorado State University Extension office, told the Coloradoan…