Which insect is frequently cited as the most serious landscape pest in many areas?

• A. Gypsy moth
• B. Japanese beetle
• C. Emerald ash borer
• D. Aphids

Answer: (B)

In landscapes, a pest that causes widespread trouble is one that can attack many different plants and affect plants at multiple life stages. The Japanese beetle fits this pattern: adults feed on a large variety of ornamentals and fruit trees, often skeletonizing leaves and causing visible damage, while the grub stage lives in the soil and feeds on lawn roots, weakening turf. This broad host range and dual impact on both trees/shrubs and lawns make it a standout as a serious landscape pest in many areas. Emerald ash borer is devastating but limited to ash trees, gypsy moth often causes severe defoliation in forests rather than broad landscape plantings, and aphids, while common, don’t usually reach the same level of widespread, landscape-wide damage.