Province Plans Japanese Beetle Treatments in St. John's Area

The provincial Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands will begin larvicide treatments next week as part of ongoing efforts to monitor and eradicate the invasive Japanese beetle in the St. John's area.

The department is working alongside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, industry stakeholders and citizen scientists to track detections of the pest within the city.

Officials say a contracted landscaping company is scheduled to begin treatments during the week of June 29, weather permitting. The work will use the larvicides Acelepryn and Mamba, both of which are approved by Health Canada for use against Japanese beetle larvae.

Treatment efforts will focus on downtown St. John's and other locations within an Area of Concern identified by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, where Japanese beetles were detected in 2024 and 2025.

Sites slated for treatment include Government House, the National War Memorial, as well as city-owned properties, including Bannerman Park and Bowring Park. Additional properties within the designated area may also be treated.

The department said homeowners, landowners and property managers within the Area of Concern will be contacted to discuss ways they can assist in efforts to eliminate the pest.

Signs will be posted at treated locations indicating when members of the public can safely re-enter affected areas.

Japanese beetles are considered a significant threat to agriculture, horticulture, landscaping and forestry industries. The insect feeds on more than 300 plant species and can spread rapidly through wind and the movement of soil and plants.