WSDA Begins 2025 Invasive Insect Monitoring, Trapping–130 Varieties

It's the annual pursuit of eradicating dangerous or invasive insects in WA State.

  WA State Department of Ag to begin setting traps

The WSDA Pest Program will attempt to trap as many invasive insects as possible, but there are some that are higher on the list.

Besides the spongy moth, which damage trees and plants by eating hundreds of species,  the Japanese beetle is probably at the top of the list. The beetle eats even more types of vegetation, and grass.

WSDA said:

"WSDA saw a decline in beetle detections in 2023, but the numbers rebounded to almost 25,000 last year and the beetles were found in Grandview, Sunnyside, Mabton, Wapato, Pasco, Kennewick, and a small population near SeaTac."

When traps are set in neighborhoods, residents are urged to leave them alone. They often resemble a plastic bag with a valve on top.

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And, WSDA is offering free spray applications for residential areas in zones that are known to be affected by the Japanese beetle.  For more information on that program, click here.

READ More: Spray treatments begin for Japanese beetle.