The City of Kamloops is ramping up its response to the invasive Japanese beetle after detections jumped dramatically in 2025, prompting expanded treatment areas and a second regulated zone set to take effect next month.

During a presentation to council Tuesday, staff said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) detected 769 Japanese beetles in Kamloops last year — up from just 11 in 2024.

The beetles were found in several areas, including Exhibition Park, Westsyde and the Bunker Road Yard Waste Depot.

“Japanese beetle is a federally regulated and quarantined pest in Canada,” Civic Operations Manager Nicole Nicholls told council.

“If left unmanaged, this pest can cause significant damage to parks, golf courses, gardens and agriculture crops.”

Westsyde added to regulated area

The CFIA first established a regulated zone in Kamloops in June 2025 covering much of the downtown core east of 6th Avenue, south to Highway 1 and north to the Thompson River.

Staff now say a second regulated area covering Westsyde will officially come into effect June 1.

The restrictions are aimed at preventing the spread of the beetle through the movement of soil and plant material.

Under federal rules, regulated materials such as sod, turfgrass, shrubs, bedding plants and potted outdoor plants cannot leave the regulated zone without a CFIA-issued movement certificate.

The city said curbside organics service will continue unchanged, though regulated materials must follow strict disposal requirements.

Treatment area grows from 5 to 29 hectares

The province issued the city a notice to treat affected public lands earlier this year, leading to a major expansion in treatment areas.

In 2025, treatment covered about 5.4 hectares around Exhibition Park. This year, the treatment area grew to more than 29 hectares.

Applications were completed between May 11 and May 22 using Acelepryn, a larvicide approved by Health Canada.

According to the city memo, the product targets root-eating grubs and is considered safe for people, pets and pollinators.

Treatment work was completed by contracted applicator Bartlett Tree Experts.

Cost climbs to $83,000

The city says the expanded response has also increased costs.

Kamloops spent roughly $31,700 on Japanese beetle response efforts in 2025. That figure has climbed to $83,000 in 2026 due largely to the expanded treatment area.

However, Civic Operations Director Jenn Fretz said council will not need to approve additional funding this year.

“As Council may remember, last year was the first year that we were asked to do something for Japanese beetle,” Fretz said.

“We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into, so we asked Council for $200,000 to cover costs related to the program.”

He added the remaining funds from last year’s budget allocation are sufficient to cover 2026 expenses.

Councillors question treatment boundaries

Several councillors questioned why some nearby green spaces were excluded from treatment zones despite being close to known detections.

Councillor Stephen Karpuk pointed specifically to untreated grassy areas near cemeteries and schools.

Environmental Services Coordinator Beth Lussier explained treatment boundaries are determined by provincial officials based on previous detections.

“So they take that detection site and they blow it up 200 metres, and that’s what we’re subjected to treat in those areas,” said Environmental Services Coordinator Beth Lussier.

She added that Japanese beetles are considered more of a “hitchhiker species,” spreading primarily through the movement of soil and plants by humans rather than through long-distance flight.

Monitoring to continue through fall

The CFIA will continue surveillance trapping in Kamloops between June and October.

Under federal policy, regulated areas remain in place until there are two consecutive years without any beetle detections.

City staff say updated maps, public notifications and additional communications will continue rolling out through June.