Killing Japanese Beetles

For many gardeners in the Northeastern United States, killing Japanese beetles is a necessary part of their gardening duties. Native to Japan, these small garden terrorists were discovered in the United States in 1916. Gardeners having been waging war with them ever since. Without a natural predator in their adopted home, they are slowly spreading across the country.

Japanese beetles aren't the only bad guys.

What Do Japanese Beetles Eat?

Adult Japanese beetles eat over 400 varieties of plants but seem to have a preference for the best roses in your garden. A few of the plants they love are:

• Roses
• Hydrangea
• Basil
• Iris
• Rhododendron
• Wisteria

The evidence that you have an infestation of these pests are "C" shaped patches in the lawn , leaves that look like skeletons with only the veins left, and of course, seeing the beetles themselves.

Japanese Beetles Life Cycle

The Japanese beetle's life cycle occurs in four stages.

• Egg
• Larva
• Pupa
• Adult

Beginning in late July the adult Japanese beetle lays the eggs at the base of a host plant, usually four or five at a time. The adult will repeat this process until fifty or more eggs have been laid. In a few weeks the eggs hatch into the destructive white grubs of the larval stage of the Japanese beetle and begin to destroy your lawn.

The grubs over winter deep in the ground and in the spring begin eating the roots of the grass. In late spring they enter the pupa stage. The pupa stage lasts about two weeks and then the adult Japanese beetle emerges from the ground to start the cycle over again. The whole life cycle takes about a year.

Identifying and killing Japanese beetles is easiest when the beetle is in its adult stage. At this time they are easily seen on the host plants around your garden.

Killing Japanese Beetles

Gardeners have come up with many ways to kill Japanese Beetles. One of the most effective, albeit tedious, ways to get rid of the beetles is to hand pick the adults off plants and kill them. Having a can of soapy water to drop them in when they are removed form the plant is the simplest way to do this. While this might not sound effective it is an excellent method.

Japanese beetles can draw many other adult Japanese Beetles to an area. In fact, the beetles will fly up to five miles to find a mate, look for food, or find a hospitable nursery for its eggs. The pheromone traps found at nurseries can make a bad situation worse by actually attracting more beetles than they trap.

Pesticides are not a good choice for the environment or the person using them. If you are determined to use pesticides against Japanese beetles, check with the garden center in your area. Different pesticides are available in different locations so they will be able to advise you for your particular situation.

An organic control method has been developed and is becoming popular with gardeners in many areas. Milky Spore disease is applied to the ground in your garden. The grubs of the Japanese beetle eat the powdery bacterium and it kills the grub by multiplying in its system. Once the grub is dead and begins to decay the bacterium are released back into the soil and other grubs eat it. This creates an ongoing cycle which can protect your garden from the Japanese beetle.

Since the Milky Spore bacteria are living organisms, they continually regenerate themselves as they feed on the beetle grubs. The bacterium can last for up to ten years and is safe to use around children and pets. It is non-toxic to wildlife. The powder can be found in many garden shops and on the Internet.

Because it interrupts the lifecycle of the beetle, it is not an instant fix. You will need to continue to handpick adult beetles off your plants. For best results spread Milky Spore over your property following the directions on the canister. This should be done in late July or early August. Reapply Milky Spore in the spring.

There are many homemade remedies for killing Japanese beetles. Some of them may work for you. Give them a try and see if you are happy with the results. If not, it is back to old faithful- hand picking.

Consistency is the Key

Killing Japanese beetles may be an ongoing part of gardening, but having a long term plan, using natural control methods and keeping plants healthy will help overcome these pests over a period of time. Be consistent in your defense against the Japanese beetle and the numbers of Japanese beetles in your garden will dwindle. If you can get your neighbors to join with you in a synchronized effort, the beetle could well be eradicated in your entire neighborhood..

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