Japanese beetle (Popilla japonica) is an invasive, regulated pest under the Plant Protection Act, which feeds on the roots of turf grass and the foliage of more than 300 plant species. This pest could cause serious harm to BC’s agricultural sector and ecosystem, and could cause significant damage to food crops, lawns, landscapers, golf courses, gardens and parks.

Japanese beetle was first detected in the False Creek area of Vancouver in July 2017. Since the initial detection, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has participated in a multi-partner eradication response to limit the spread of the pest into other parts of BC, to successfully eradicate its presence, and to maintain BC’s pest-free regulatory status. The response partners include:

• BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
• City of Vancouver
• Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
• Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC)
• British Columbia Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA)
• Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD)
• City of Burnaby
• City of Coquitlam
• City of Port Coquitlam
• City of Richmond
• City of Abbotsford
• City of Kamloops
• Other industry organizations and associations

The Japanese beetle (JB) eradication response in British Columbia (BC) is entering Year Seven (Y7) during fiscal year 2024 – 2025 (FY 2024/25). During Year Six of the response (FY 2023/24), a small number of Japanese beetles were detected outside of the Burnaby and Vancouver, British Columbia (BC) regulated areas (RAs). The number of beetles found continues to be low, and indicates that the JB population is continuing to decrease in the original Vancouver regulated area, however, the geographic spread of the Year Six detections may present a number of challenges for the response going forward. 

The overall number of detections continue to decrease significantly when compared to the 8276 beetles detected in 2018, but 2022 distribution trends may present a challenge. This is the highest number of Japanese beetles found outside of a regulated area since a RA was first established in Vancouver in 2018. The number, sex and locations of the Japanese beetles detected within the City of Port Coquitlam indicate a satellite population of JB  has been established.  

CFIA Pest Factsheet

2021 BC Japanese beetle survey report

In the fall of 2024, the Province of BC issued Treatment Orders to the Cities of Burnaby, Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Kamloops for areas surrounding the detections. Dry weather conditions limited the treatment applications to areas with irrigated turf.  Untreated areas may result in additional detections being reflected in the detections numbers during 2024 surveillance. 

Interactive Map– type in your postal code or street address to identify whether you are in a Japanese beetle regulated area.

Based on the number and locations of the detections, the boundaries of the current regulated areas have been reviewed for FY 2023/24, and will include areas within the Cities of Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Vancouver, with new regulated areas introduced in Abbotsford and Kamloops. 

This is in response to an increase in the detections of Japanese beetle found within these areas, and was made at the recommendation of the British Columbia Plant Protection Advisory Council (BCPPAC).

CFIA’s Notice to Industry

Until further notice, the CFIA is restricting the movement of plants with soil and soil-related material attached that is infested or likely to be infested with Japanese beetle, in accordance with the Phytosanitary requirements to prevent the spread of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, in Canada and the United States (D-96-15).

A CFIA-issued movement certificate is required to move these items out of the regulated areas. This restriction is in effect year-round, and is intended to reduce the risk of unintentional human-assisted spread of the beetle.

Soil and plants parts (including green waste from pruning or grass clippings) will no longer be regulated.

Changes have been put into place to focus efforts on to the highest-risk pathway for the beetle to spread, which is plants with soil or compost material attached.

Until further notice, the following restrictions are in effect:

• The movement of plants with soil attached out of a Japanese beetle regulated area is restricted year-round.

A CFIA-issued movement certificate is required to move all the regulated articles listed above outside of a regulated area.

CFIA Guidance for the movement of plants, plant parts and soil leaving a Japanese beetle-regulated area located within British Columbia.

Follow these best practices to prevent the spread of Japanese beetle:

• Leave it local whenever possible!
  • Don’t move soil, plants and green waste outside of the regulated area, unless you have a CFIA-issued Movement Certificate!
  • Follow all movement restrictions when working in the regulated area.
  • Use local municipal green bins to dispose of plant material that cannot be stored on site.
• Separate plants with soil from plants without it!
• Tarp your load properly to prevent beetles from flying out! Watch this video from the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) for tips.
• Thoroughly clean gardening and lawn care equipment regularly – Clean soil from all equipment and tools, including lawn mowers, aerating and power raking equipment, especially if you intend to use these items at another location or job site.
• Check your clothing, equipment and vehicles for hitchhiker beetles! Japanese beetles can even hitch a ride on your work boots!
• Know before you go! 
  • Understand the legal requirements and get a CFIA-issued movement certificate in advance!
  • Take the most direct route to the nearest approved transfer station.
  • Keep a map of the regulated area in all crew trucks for easy reference.
  • Ensure your stops are within transfer station hours.
  • Consolidate loads when inside the regulated area to reduce the number of trips required.
  • Some fees may apply. Have an accepted payment method ready.

A CFIA-issued movement certificate is legally required to move all regulated articles outside of a regulated area. This includes movement to a transfer station or disposal site that is located outside of a regulated area.

It is recommended to use on-site municipal green waste bins when possible. There are two transfer stations accepting regulated articles from the regulated areas:

Burnaby Eco-Centre

4855 Still Creek Drive

Burnaby, BC Canada

Hours of operation: Mon – Sun 8:00 am – 4:00 pm

Vancouver South Transfer Station (Kent Street)

377 West Kent Ave North

Vancouver, BC Canada

Hours of operation: Mon – Fri 5:30 am – 7:00 pm, Sat-Sun 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

Standard tipping fees apply.

* The Burnaby Eco-Centre will only accept green waste from the Burnaby regulated area

** The North Shore Transfer Station does not accept green waste from any Japanese beetle regulated area

Treatment for Japanese beetle is coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF). The 2023 treatment response will consist of a single larvicide treatment (Acelepryn) of turfgrass on public and private lands. Four foliar applications of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae (Btg), a biological insecticide will be applied to landscape beds in areas with adult beetles through mid-summer.

The cities will coordinate treatment of public lands (city parks, boulevards, etc.) and treatment of private lands will be coordinated by the cities, licensed applicators and the Ministry.

Costs of this treatment within the Treatment Area are covered by the Province and the project partners. If you have clients residing in the Treatment Area who require treatment of their private land that you will perform for them, please contact the BCLNA.

Acelepryn Q&A

Letter to private landowners – City of Vancouver 2022 

Letter to private landowners- City of Burnaby 2022

Letter to private landowners – City of Port Coquitlam 2022

One of the enforcement options is to issue an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP), which is a Notice of Violation with either a warning or a penalty. Penalties for individuals can range from $500 to $1,300, and from $1,300 to $10,000 for violations committed during the course of business.