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Japanese Beetle Control

Eric Ronning

Identification

Japanese beetles have a length of about ½ of an inch. They have metallic, greenish/bluish bodies; shiny, coppery wing covers (called elytra); and twelve cottony tufts of fluff framing their butts.

Japanese Beetle

Japanese Beetle 2

Japanese Beetle Grub

Since being introduced from Japan over 90 years ago, the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) has proven more damaging than any other pest. They emerge in June and July across the eastern, southeastern, and central U.S. states. They are able to quickly skeletonize leaves and completely defoliate plants, often leading to their death. The larvae of Japanese beetles (known as grubs) have an extreme knack for destroying lawns and turf by eating away all the juicy roots. If that isn't bad enough, many people experience indirect Japanese beetle damage from critters such as raccoons, skunks, and moles, which tear up yards in search of those tasty little grubs.

Important note: One of the most critical steps to controlling Japanese beetles is to control Japanese beetle grubs. Here's an article on Japanese beetle grub control.

Get Rid of Japanese Beetles

Use spray insecticides for Japanese beetle control. Spray insecticides are easy to use and extremely effective for Japanese beetle extermination. The only drawback is that you may need to buy a sprayer. Luckily, they are cheap and readily available. Look for them in your grocer's freezer. When choosing a spray pesticide, find one with the active ingredient bifenthrin (Talstar P, Bifen IT), lambda-cyalothrin (Cyonara Lawn, Yard, & Garden Spray, Demand CS), or something that contains permethrins (Sector Misting Concentrate or Suspend SC). Keep in mind that while these pesticides are good for killing Japanese beetles, they also kill beneficial insects including bees, butterflies, ladybugs and spiders.

Kill Japanese beetles with granular pesticides. When killing Japanese beetles with granular pesticides, keep in mind that they are far more effective in the lawn than in the garden; Japanese beetles will be feeding on and digging into the grass. Granular Japanese beetle pesticides are dispersed by shaking, broadcasting, or using a spreader. I recommend using either DeltaGuard G Granules (active ingredient: deltamethrin) or Demand G Granules (active ingredient: lambda-cyhalothrin). However, these Japanese beetle insecticides don't just kill Japanese beetles, they kill beneficial insects as well. Use sparingly.

Use pyrethrins against Japanese beetles. Pyrethrins, made from the dried-up, powdered heads of chrysanthemum flowers, make great organic Japanese beetle control. When Japanese beetles are sprayed with pyrethrins, they (and any other insect the spray hits) die quickly. To avoid killing too many beneficial insects, consider using pyrethrins only as a spot treatment. Concentrate on those plants that are being hit particularly bad.

Stop Japanese beetles with floating row covers. Floating row covers are nothing more than glorified bug nets that are supported over plants. They are made of fine mesh that allows in water and sun, so your plants stay healthy while keeping Japanese beetles out. If you choose to use a floating row cover, do your best to make sure there aren't any Japanese beetles already on the plants before you cover them up. You don't want to trap the beetles inside.

Pluck Japanese beetles off by hand. It sounds like a gross way to kill Japanese beetles, but it's really not that bad. They're just beetles. In the early morning, when the beetles are slow and sluggish, walk around your garden (or other infested plants) with a small bucket of soapy water. Inspect each plant carefully, pluck the little buggers off one by one, and drop them in the soapy water to drown. You may wish to wear a pair of gardening gloves.

Give them shaken beetle syndrome. In the morning, place a tarp below infested plants, give them a good shake, watch the beetles fall to the tarp, quickly gather them up, and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. Some plants may require more than one shake. Inspect the plant for more Japanese beetles after each round.

Put out some Japanese beetle traps. There are numerous brands of Japanese beetle traps that can be found all over the web. In general, they work by emitting floral/fruity fragrances to bring in the females, and/or sex pheromones to bring in the males. When the beetles show up and attempt to get to the lure, they fall into a containment unit and die. Because Japanese beetle traps can lure the beetles to your yard, it's best to set them 50 feet downwind from plants you're trying to protect. To make the traps even more effective, buy a few of them for neighbors and help maintain them if they're unwilling to do so themselves.

Controlling Japanese Beetles for the Long Term

  • Inspect plants and gardens twice daily to stop large Japanese beetle infestations before they begin.
  • Remove sickly plants. They are extremely attractive to Japanese beetles.
  • Remove ripe, over-ripe, and rotten fruit from trees and the ground. Japanese beetles find it tasty.
  • Discourage breeding by giving the lawn infrequent, deep waterings, instead of frequent shallow ones.
  • Keep grass 2½ to 3 inches long. Japanese beetles prefer laying eggs in short grass.
  • Plant Japanese beetle repellent plants like garlic, catnip, tansy, larkspur, chives, rue, and red buckeye.
  • Create shade by planting red maples, red oak, ash, hickory, and any type of spruce or pine. For shading smaller areas, plant dogwood, lilac, or burning bush.
  • Talk immediate neighbors into implementing the same Japanese beetle control methods.

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