What are Japanese Beetles?
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are one of the most destructive pests of turfgrass and ornamentals in the United States.
These shiny, metallic-green and brown beetles attack more than 300 different plant species.
Japanese beetle damage is particularly noticeable on roses, as well as on fruits, vegetables, and trees such as linden,
crabapple, and fruit trees.
Japanese beetles are active during daylight hours and are often seen in large groups feeding on leaves or flowers.
The insects skeletonize leaves by eating the tissue between the veins, which gives the foliage a lacy or shot-hole
appearance.
Heavy infestations can destroy plants outright. grubs also cause damage to lawns by feeding on grass roots.
How Does Japanese Beetles Look Like?
Adult Japanese beetles are about 1/2-inch long and 3/8-inch wide.
They are shiny, metallic green on the top side of their bodies with copper-colored wing covers.
The abdomens (undersides) of the beetles are whitish with brown patches.
Japanese beetles have six legs and two long antennae that are banded with white.
The grubs (immature stages) of Japanese beetles are C-shaped, cream colored, and have brown heads.
They grow to be about 1/2-inch long before they pupate (transform) into adults.
Japanese beetle grubs spend the winter in the soil and begin to emerge as adults in late May or early June.
They mate soon after emerging from the ground, and the females lay eggs in the soil near turfgrass roots or other suitable
host plants.
The eggs hatch in about two weeks, and the resulting grubs feed on grass roots until fall, when they burrow deeper into the
soil to overwinter.
In the spring, the grubs move up to the soil surface and resume feeding on roots until they pupate and emerge as adults.
There is one generation of Japanese beetles per year in most areas of the United States.
How To Get Rid Of Japanese Beetles?
There are a number of ways to get rid of Japanese beetles.
You can handpick them off of your plants and drop them into soapy water.
You can also use traps that attract the beetles with a pheromone lure and then trap them on a sticky surface.
Another option is to use insecticides, but be sure to read the label carefully and follow all directions before using any
pesticide.
If you have grubs in your lawn, you can treat them with an insecticide that contains the active ingredient imidacloprid or
milky spore powder.
Imidacloprid can be applied as a systemic insecticide, which means that it is absorbed by the plant and distributed
throughout the tissue, making it effective at killing the grubs when they feed on the plant.
Milky spore powder is a biological control that contains spores of a bacterium that infects and kills Japanese beetle grubs.
It can take several years for milky spore powder to build up enough bacteria in the soil to be effective, but it is safe for
people, pets, and wildlife and will remain in the soil for many years once it is applied.
Whatever method you choose, it is important to act quickly when you see Japanese beetles on your plants.
These pests can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time, so it is best to remove them before they have a chance to do
too much damage.
In Conclusion
Japanese beetles are a destructive pest that can cause serious damage to your plants.
There are a number of ways to get rid of them, including handpicking, traps, and insecticides.
Whichever method you choose, it is important to act quickly to prevent extensive damage.