Effect of Soil pH on Japanese Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Oviposition in Potted Turfgrass

The possible effect of soil pH on Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, oviposition and early-instar survival was investigated in the laboratory. Soils were amended with elemental sulfur or dolomitic limestone to produce a range of pH levels from 3.2 to 7.9. Pots containing one of seven soil pH levels that had been planted with a turfgrass mix were placed in cages and exposed to Japanese beetle adults for 7 or 10 d. Pots were subsequently inspected for eggs and first instars. In six tests conducted over two summers, there was no significant difference in Japanese beetle oviposition preference in pots maintained at pH 5.0-7.9.