A quarantine is established under this chapter against all life stages of the insect pest Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman), a member of the family Scarabaeidae. The Japanese beetle is a persistent, serious and highly destructive pest, attacking the roots, leaves, and fruits of over three hundred kinds of plants including fruit trees, ornamentals, and field and vegetable crops. The director of agriculture has determined that the regulation and exclusion of Japanese beetle is necessary to protect the environmental quality, forests, floriculture and agricultural crops of the state of Washington.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter
17.24 RCW. WSR 00-23-098, § 16-470-700, filed 11/21/00, effective 12/22/00; WSR 90-15-042 (Order 2049), § 16-470-700, filed 7/16/90, effective 8/16/90.]