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PEST COULD POTENTIALLY DEVASTATE THE GRAND VALLEY’S FRUIT AND WINE INDUSTRY
MESA COUNTY BATTLES INVASIVE JAPANESE BEETLE Words by Sharon Sullivan | Photos courtesy of Mel Schreiner
J
apanese Beetles have been detected in
“Because the Japanese Beetle affects such a
Grand Junction, where state and county
wide variety of plants and can spread through
officials fear the insects — if allowed to
people’s yards, we consider it one of the most
proliferate — could wreak havoc on the region’s
damaging insects in the United States,” says
agricultural industry.
Duncan Dearduff, Mesa County’s noxious weed
The iridescent green beetles love to feed
74
and pest management coordinator.
on more than 300 different plant species —
Thus, Mesa County, the Colorado Department
including crops like grapes, peaches, roses,
of Agriculture (CDA) and Colorado State University
sweet corn and turf grass.
(CSU) Extension-Tri-River Area are working
