New Forecasting Model for Japanese Beetle in Minnesota

Dominique Ebbenga, Eric Burkness, Adam Toninato, Bill Hutchison

To improve advance notice of Japanese beetle infestations, we developed a preliminary forecasting model based on the well-known "growing degree-days" concept, used for predicting insect and plant growth under field conditions. Degree-days (DD) can be calculated manually or by computer models. Once daily degree days have been calculated, the next step is accumulating DDs for the field season, or period of interest. Using this information, we can begin to correlate pest phenology, or the timing of life events such as adult emergence, with DDs. Read the entire article on the Fruit and Vegetable News site.