(1) expand our understanding of the prevalence and distribution of a key japanese beetle biocontrol agent in alabama, (2) identify a greater number of potential pathogen nursery sites for obtaining…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the University of Alabama in Huntsville a $104,432 Cooperative Agreement on June 1, 2026, to expand understanding of a Japanese beetle biocontrol pathogen in Alabama and develop methods for field-based grub infection research.

The recipient will conduct field collections of Japanese beetles from multiple Alabama locations, screen them for pathogen presence, and establish tented experimental plots to direct adult egg lay and test grub infection rates under naturalized conditions. Deliverables include maps showing Japanese beetle density and pathogen distribution across an expanded range in Alabama to identify new pathogen nursery sites, and a protocol for creating artificially infested grub plots to evaluate whether turf application of spore solution can successfully increase grub infection under field conditions.

The work runs through May 31, 2027, with performance in Alabama. The pathogen research supports development of a safe, inexpensive, long-term biocontrol agent for Japanese beetle management intended to benefit specialty crop growers (turf, berries, apples, and grapes), golf course managers, park managers, and private homeowners.

(1) expand our understanding of the prevalence and distribution of a key japanese beetle biocontrol agent in alabama, (2) identify a greater number of potential pathogen nursery sites for obtaining spores to promote research, and (3) will improve our ability to study grub biology and infection through the development of a method for creating experimental field plots. Activities to be performed: field collections of japanese beetles from multiple locations in alabama will be screened for the pathogen. Japanese beetle grubs are notoriously difficult to rear in a lab setting. We will set up tented plots to direct adult EGG lay, thereby testing grubs under more natural conditions as we test methods to increase grub infection rate. Deliverables and expected outcomes: this work will produce maps showing japanese beetle density and pathogen presence across an expanded range in alabama to identify new nursery sites. Protocol for creating artificially infested grub plots to generate data on whether a turf application of spore solution can successfully increase grub infection under field conditions. Intended beneficiary(IES): information from this project will be used in the further development of the pathogen as a safe, inexpensive, long-term biocontrol agent for japanese beetle management, with the intended beneficiaries being specialty crop growers (turf, berries, apples, and grapes), golf course managers, park managers, and private homeowners.