Katja Schulz, Creative Commons 2.0

Japanese beetle treatment and containment

Restriction of movement of soil and plant materials

The CFIA is restricting the movement of these materials out of the regulated area:

Soil
Rooted plants with soil
Plant material with no soil attached that is infested or likely to be infested with the Japanese beetle

These restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of unintentional human-assisted spread of the beetle.

Review restrictions

Map of regulated area (2 MB)

We are working as part of an ongoing, collaborative response to prevent the spread of the Japanese beetle in BC with:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food (BCMAF)
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC)
BC Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA)
City of Burnaby
City of Port Coquitlam
Other governmental and non-governmental stakeholders

When and where the movement of soil and plant materials is restricted

A CFIA-issued movement certificate is required to move these materials outside of the Japanese beetle regulated area.

When movement is restricted	Regulated materials
Year-round	Plants with soil attached Soil
June 15 to October 15 (flying season of adult beetle)	Plants Plant parts with no soil attached (above-ground plant parts)

Regulated area

Map of regulated area (2 MB)

Tips for residents
- Report sightings of the Japanese beetle to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- Do not remove, relocate, or interfere with Japanese beetle traps.
- Do not transport soil or plant parts out of the regulated area (as described under movement controls) without permission from the CFIA. You can also assist the CFIA by reporting all illegal movement of regulated materials.
Get more information from the CFIA.
How the Japanese beetle causes damage
Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) is an invasive plant pest that was first introduced to Eastern North America in 1916. This insect can significantly damage:
- Landscape plants
- Turf in lawns, parks, sports fields, and golf courses
- Fruit and vegetable gardens
- Ornamental plants in nurseries
- Orchards
- Agricultural crops
Japanese beetle larvae feed on the roots of turf grass and other plants. Adult beetles are heavy feeders attacking the flowers, foliage, and fruit of more than 300 plant species, including roses, blueberries, and grapevines. The potential damage to urban landscapes and agricultural crops is significant compared to other pests like European chafer beetle.

Learn more about the beetle
History of the Japanese beetle in Vancouver

Japanese beetle was first detected in BC in the False Creek area of Vancouver in 2017. In 2018, the CFIA established a Japanese beetle regulated area around False Creek restricting movement of plant material and soil.

In 2021, the Japanese beetle was detected in areas of Vancouver outside of False Creek and in Burnaby and Port Coquitlam. Based on detections and recommendations made by the BC Plant Protection Advisory Council, a Ministerial Order was signed on March 19, 2022, to further expand the regulated area within Vancouver and to create a new regulated area within the City of Burnaby.

Review CFIA Japanese beetle survey reports