Public urged to help eradicate beetles

OREM — A Japanese beetle infestation has been discovered in three Orem neighborhoods, and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is urging the public to join the efforts to eradicate it.

A series of public meetings will be held March 15-22 to provide information on the insect and how to coordinate an eradication effort.

More than 600 beetles were collected by the department last summer in the Geneva, Suncrest and Orem North areas. The area of infestation is bordered by the following streets: 800 North, State Street, 400 South, and I-15.

Invitations to the neighborhood meetings are being delivered door to door to residents in the affected areas. For more information on the Japanese beetle, go online to extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/ENT-100-06PR.pdf or call Clint Burfitt at UDAF at 801-538-4912.