We wanted to give everyone an update on how the Japanese Beetle Eradication project went this past year.
 
Overall, 95% of you consented to treatment this year. With your help we treated 8,500 residences, 6 schools, 8 parks, 3 shopping center, and 1 golf course. This came out to roughly 3,000 acres.
 
This year we trapped 7,749 Japanese beetles in the Cedar mill area. The overall number of beetles trapped in 2019 was a 56% reduction from the previous year. There was a 65% reduction in the number of beetles trapped within the 2018 treatment boundary as a result of the 2018 granular treatment and 2019 foliar treatment. We saw a 75% decrease within the boundaries of the supplementary foliar treatment. 
 
In order to eradicate this pest, we will continue our treatment next season. We are thrilled with our success, and will be more aggressive with our approach next year while we have the upper hand. We are currently planning a larger treatment boundary for the 2020 eradication and will update everyone soon with the new map. We thank you all for your continued support with helping Oregon eradicate Japanese beetle, it wouldn’t be possible without all of you! 

Happy Holidays!

The Japanese beetle yard debris drop off site at Northwest Landscape Services in Hillsboro will be CLOSING for the Fall and Winter on Friday, October 4, 2019 at 5pm. Northwest Landscape services will not be used for the Japanese beetle yard debris in 2020, and we will notify everyone with the new location of the yard debris drop off site in 2020. The reason for the closure is the reduced risk of spreading adult beetles during the Fall and Winter. Other businesses in the area that handle yard debris waste can take loads from the quarantine area during the closure. 
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Curbside yard debris will continue to be redirected to the Hillsboro Landfill as part of the Japanese beetle eradication and containment project. Please continue to use your curbside bins normally. 

Also, loads of fall leaves DO NOT need to be taken to the Japanese beetle yard debris drop off site in Hillsboro. Loads of fallen leaves are not a risk to spread Japanese beetle and are not part of the quarantined material. Please see the list below for material that falls within the quarantine.

Quarantined yard debris and material:

• grass clippings
• plants with roots or soil attached
• sod or removed turfgrass
• growing media (i.e. potting soil from raised beds or potted plants, NOT fill dirt)
• compost
• bulbs or tubers of ornamental plants
• mixed loads containing any of the above material (avoid mixed loads containing garbage and non-plant material)

Not necessary or acceptable materials:

• tree limbs or prunings (no roots attached)
• shrubs prunings or clippings (no roots attached)
• fill dirt
• loads of only leaves in the Fall/Autumn
• lumber or fence boards with dirt attached
• non-plant materials (for example: lumber, cement, gravel, and fencing)
• materials not on the list of quarantined debris or materials​

This time of year, people are finding thousands of boxelder bug nymphs on their properties. The Western boxelder bug adults (Boisea rubrolineata) are about 0.5 in. long, and brownish/ black with red-markings on the sides of their wings, and their nymphs (immature stage) are smaller and bright red in color. The quantity that you may find in your yard can be alarming. Luckily, though boxelder bugs feed on leaves, they are unlikely to cause any damage. Boxelder bugs main hosts are female boxelder trees, but they can also be found on male boxelder trees, ash, and other maples. 

The adults can become a nuisance in the fall when they head for peoples homes to escape colder temperatures and overwinter. Though they do not bite humans or pets, and will not get into your food, they can aggregate in large numbers. Ways to reduce an infestation in your home include caulking openings and cracks around doors and windows in your home, removing debris and leaf-litter away from the foundation of your home, and vacuuming up any that find their way inside (squishing the bugs are not recommended as they can leave stains). 

Boxelder bug adult (Boisea rubrolineata)           Japanese beetle adult (Popillia japonica)

For more information about Boxelder bugs, click here. 

And please do not hesitate to reach out or ask any questions you may have by calling 1-800-525-0137 or emailing us at japanesebeetle@oda.state.or.us