A larvicide treatment for invasive Japanese beetles is set to begin next week at City-owned parks, medians and boulevards in the north and south sides of Port Coquitlam.

The City has been notified that the Japanese beetles have been detected in traps within the community and as such, a Provincial Notice of Requirement to Treat public lands for Japanese beetle has been issued.

To comply with the Provincial Order, the City will be undertaking treatment of public lands through spring 2023. Treatment includes turf areas within boulevards, medians and landscape beds located on public land. Treatment will be undertaken on the north and south sides of Port Coquitlam. Maps of the locations can be found at portcoquitlam.ca/japanesebeetle.

To give the larvicide a chance to take effect, residents are asked to avoid these areas on treatment days. There will be City staff and signage present at each site to advise people of program details and best practices including keeping their pets off the grass. 

The Japanese beetle is an invasive, federally regulated pest that was first introduced to eastern North America from Japan in 1916. It was detected in the False Creek area of the City of Vancouver in 2017 and since then, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been undertaking an advanced trapping and eradication program across Metro Vancouver, including the City of Port Coquitlam. 

About the treatment

Treatments consist of applying Acelepryn directly to the soil, this targets root-eating grubs and is not harmful to people, pets, mammals, birds, bees, butterflies, or other animals.

The larvicide Acelepryn is approved for use in Canada by the Pest Management Agency of Health Canada, and is permitted under the City’s Pesticide Use Control Bylaw No. 3767 4(c).

For additional information visit portcoquitlam.ca/japanesebeetle or contact Public Works at 604.927.5496 or email parks@portcoquitlam.ca.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca