Japanese beetle found near Pasco; more could be hiding

PASCO — A Japanese beetle was confirmed in Pasco in July, according to a statement from the Washington State Department of Agriculture. A Franklin County Horticultural Pest and Disease Board trapper found the beetle and state officials responded to the catch, verified the beetle, and set up a delimiting trapping grid around the find, according to the statement. “This is an excellent example of just how important agency collaboration is,” Camilo Acosta, WSDA Japanese beetle eradication project coordinator, wrote in the statement.