Types of Japanese Beetles

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) have made their way into the U.S. and become a major pest.

Japan has a diverse ecosystem of coastal shores and some wetlands outside the urban cities that are home to wide variety of insects. Beetles are a large percentage of these insects and have even become an important part of life within the country. The popularity of certain beetle species has led to people adopting them as pets and raising them as alternatives to more conventional pets, such as dogs or cats.

Japanese Beetle

Accidentally introduced in 1916 to the United States from Japan, Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) have developed a reputation as a destructive insect species. Unlike Japan, the Japanese beetle has no natural predators in the U.S. They are capable of feeding off 300 different types of plants, eating leaves, flowers and any fruits produced by the plant, states the University of Kentucky. On average, the lifespan of the beetle is between 30 to 45 days, and it spends most of that time eating plant foliage. Adult Japanese beetles are 1/2-inch long and are metallic green with copper-colored wing covers.

Japanese Rhinoceros Beetle

Famous for its well-documented frontal horn, the Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is found in Japan, Korea, China and some other Asian countries. The male beetles use their horns to fight each other during mating season. They primarily feed on the nectar or sap from trees. Housed in a black exterior shell, the rhinoceros beetle is one the largest beetles in the world, reaching almost 2 1/2 inches in length. As the largest, they are also one of the strongest insects for their size and are capable of lifting 850 times their own weight, states Animal Corner. They are a popular pet for many Japanese people.

Japanese Stag Beetles

Similar to the rhinoceros beetle, stag beetles (Lucanus cervus) have fearsome-looking front mandibles that are nearly as long as the insect's whole body. Growing to a maximum size of 3 inches, stag beetles are either black or reddish brown in color, states Facts and Details.com. Japan is home to at least 20 different species of stag beetles; most feed on nectar or tree sap. Like the rhinoceros beetle, the stag beetle species is a popular pet, and many pet shops carry them.

Japanese Tiger Beetle

Many species of the tiger beetle are located around the world, such as Asia, Europe and U.S., but the Japanese tiger beetle (Cicindela japonica) is more colorfully marked than some of his relatives. Japanese tiger beetles are some of the fastest beetles in the world, with some capable of running eight kilometers per hour, states Absolute Astronomy. The beetle has front mandibles, bulging eyes and a brightly colored metallic outer shell. With superior predatory skills, the Japanese tiger beetle preys upon small insects.

References

• University of Kentucky: Japanese Beetles in the Urban Landscape
• Animal Corner: Rhinoceros Beetle
• Facts and Details.com: Stag Beetles, Dung Beetles and Other Kinds of Beetles
• Absolute Astronomy: Tiger Beetle Facts, Discussion Forum and Encyclopedia Article