Mesa County is making progress in dealing with the Japanese Beetle, a crop-eating pest that has infested areas of north Grand Junction, but more work is needed.

According to a county staff report, “Japanese beetle is an invasive insect that feeds on over 300 plants, including turfgrass. Both the immature form (a grub) and the adult (a beetle) feed on plants and cause damage. Larvae feed on the roots of irrigated turf. Adult beetles feed on leaves and fruit of hundreds of species, including fruit trees, ornamental and shade trees, vines, and field and vegetable crops.”

County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel said the goal is to stop the beetle from spreading into agricultural areas.

“We are now in our third year of battling this invasive pest, and Mesa County continues to run our spray program

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