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Rose Color Preference in Japanese Beetles (continued)
Background and Preparation:
Japanese beetle Information:
• Size: 15 mm long, 10 mm wide
• Color: iridescent copper and green
• Legs: 3 Pair
• Shape: Oval
• Wings: yes
• Antenna: Yes, clubbed
• Common Name: Japanese beetle
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Coleoptera
• Family: Scarabaeidae
• Genus Species: Popillia japonica
Diet: Japanese beetles are known to eat at least 300 different plant species
Habitat: Japanese beetles spend most of their lives in the soil as grubs. When they emerge in early summer they spend their time
on the green leafy foliage that is their main food source. Habitats include gardens, woods and open meadows.
Japanese beetles are an invasive species introduced to North America in the early 19th century. They spread from New Jersey,
where they were introduced via iris bulbs imported from Asia, throughout most of North America. The beetles cause widespread
flower and foliage damage. The larval stage is also the most important consumer of turf grass in North America. Crop damage
estimates range from the millions to tens of millions of dollars in every state infested with the beetles.
Despite the vast range of this insect pest, I could not find any suppliers on the internet. There is an abundance of information
about how to get rid of them, but no information on acquiring them. This lab would have to be completed during the spring and
summer when beetle collection could be facilitated by the teacher.
Japanese Beetle Lifecycle:
K-W-L:
1. What did students already know (K) about the topic?
Students were familiar with the scientific method.
Students have a basic understanding of insect
behavior and anatomy.
2. What did students want to know about the topic?
Students wanted (W) to know whether Japanese
beetles preferred one color of rose over another.
3. What did students learn (L) about the topic? Students
learned that the beetles seemed to prefer the lighter
colored roses. Students also learned that this may
be due to differences in odor rather than being
based solely on color.
