Got iridescent green beetles feasting on your roses? Those would be Japanese beetles! Here are tips on how to identify and get rid of Japanese beetles.
What Are Japanese Beetles?
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are small insects that carry a big threat. They do not discriminate when it comes to what types of plants they feed on, though they do have favorites (like roses). In fact, they are classified as a pest to hundreds of different species. They are one of the major insect pests in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, causing monumental damage to crops each year.
Prior to the beetle’s accidental introduction to the United States in the early 1900s, the Japanese beetle was found only on the islands of Japan, isolated by water and kept in check by its natural predators. In 1912, a law was passed that made it illegal to import plants rooted in soil. Unfortunately, the failure to implement the law immediately allowed the Japanese beetle to arrive in this country.
Most entomologists agree that the beetles entered the country as grubs in soil on Japanese iris roots. In 1916, these coppery-winged pests were first spotted in a nursery near Riverton, New Jersey, and by 1920, eradication programs were dropped; the beetle proved to be too prolific and widespread.
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Japanese beetle
They also like climbing hydrangea!
Japanese Beetles
I've found that Japanese Beetles love Evening Primrose. It grows wild everywhere I garden. I used to rip it up as a weed, then one day saw one covered with Japanese Beetles. Now I let them grow everywhere around my garden and I don't have a problem with the beetles in my vegetables. They would rather eat those than anything else. Plus, they're free. :-)
japanese beetle predator
noticed japanese beetles in my ornamental pussy-willow and crab trees; have been plucking by hand but also noticed the other day 3 cardinals feasting on the bugs---who knew? thanks, red birds; all you can eat, and bring your friends! :?)
Rabbits in the Garden
This may be a little gross for some of you but I have two tricks to keep the small mammals and even deer away from my garden. 1) I ask my barber for the hair clippings when I get my hair cut and sprinkle them around the garden 2) (the gross part) Sometimes I will pee on the outside of the fence edge. The mammals smell this and think it is a predator territory. In 15 years of having a veggie garden ( in CT) . Only edamame plants have every been assaulted by mammals (Whitetail deer)
That time of year again
Those durn Japanese beetles are making their summer pilgrimage to my gardens again. Because my gardens are filled with pollinators, I cannot spray with anything that’s truly effective.
So twice a day I roam the garden paths with a jar filled with soapy water. It takes stealth, but I get great satisfaction tapping singles and mating pairs into my jar. A few escape but most succumb and by summer’s end my jar will be full.
Along with my rose bush, they seem attracted to the leaves of my flowering ginger and lemon balm flowers, which the bees love.
I view it as a meditative time spent among my herbs and flowers. And it’s highly satisfying seeing my jar fill.
California -I found Japanese Beetle Grubs in my garden this year
All the literature I've found says they were only on the East coast and midwest, but I am in the Silicon Valley... I found about 26 in the one garden bed i ended digging up... unfortunately my other two garden beds already had seedlings growing - so I was too late to get them out of those. :'(
Based on this, I think they are now all over the States - very very sad
Japanese Beetles
Japanese Beatles ate my 4 o'clock s. Don't think that they were deterred by them one bit. I guess I should be glad they eat the leaves of my fruit trees and not the fruit. They love the cherry trees the most. You might try planting a cherry tree, I have found if they can eat cherry tree leaves and grape vines they tend to leave the rest more or less alone.
Japanese Beetles on Linden Tree
I'm removing my Linden Tree due to Japanese Beetles and replacing with a Red Maple.
Do I need to treat the soil before planting the new tree?
Japanese Beetles
These beetles are destroying a rose of sharon tree I've had in my yard for over 10 years. This is the first time I've ever had a problem with this pest. I've been knocking them into an empty plastic bottle with some water in it and drowning them. They are pretty easy to catch but so so many! I've pulled up all the grass in my yard this year and have mulched everywhere, I'm wondering if this contributed to the beetle problem?
japanese beetles
I have tried the milky spore. The first year I applied it in early fall per instructions, but was not able to put a second application. It really worked the first 2 years. This year has been a horrific beetle infestation. Probably a couple 100,000 of them. Read more on application of product and will use again but with applications in early spring also. Am also going to try the soap application as well. Thank you. These things are a nuisance.
Japanese beetles
Years ago (60) I went around with my mother with a jar contingent something. We would hold it under the beetle on the rose bush and they would just fall in. Does anyone know what this something is?
Japanese Beetles
It was likely just soapy water, or perhaps a mixture with alcohol or vinegar. When they feel threatened, the beetles will often drop off the plant automatically, so simply approaching and holding a bucket underneath them may do the trick.
anyone tried planting 4-o'clocks?
I read somewhere that allegedly JPs are attracted to 4-O'Clocks and will eat the leaves, which are poisonous to them, and die. Just for fun I planted pots of them and placed them near my grapevine, which they also love. I think the plants are too small yet, but I'm interested to see the results. Curious if anyone has actually tried this. Thanks!
4 OCLOCKS TO GET RID OF JB
I HAVE A WHOLE ROW OF THESE FLOWERS IN MY GARDEN. HAVENT NOTICED ANY ON MY BEANS OR TOMATOES. RABBITS ARE EATING OUR GARDEN. TOMATOES, OKRA AND PEAS. ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THESE CRITTERS1
Rabbits i n your garden
Buy a live trap or two. Bait them. After trapping rabbits, load them in your car and take them far out in the country and let go.. or Bonk them on the head and have them for dinner. NOoooooooooo. Wild rabbit is too much work to cook!
Japanese Beetles
Also, I have a new Azalea bush - do I need to be worried about her??? They don't bother my Elephant Ears or Cannas
Japanese Beetles
I read somewhere that 4 O'clocks kill them - is this true? Also they do not seem to bother my Impatients (S?) or Begoias.
Japanese Beetles
I hope to be getting an earlier offensive attack this year. I have to replace my Crowder Plum this year, but before I do, I think I have to treat the soil. I have bare spots in my grass around my dead tree and I think I have a mole this year!!!!! What is your recommendation as to what to do? I don't want to kill any bees. I just want the Japanese Beetles GONE!!!!
Eliminating Japanese Beetles
Julie,
Try something called Milky Spore. It is a little expensive, but lasts about 15 to 20 years before you have to re-apply it. Get the powder not the granular. Powder needs to be applied only once around September. The granular needs to be applied 3 times during the application year. You front load the cost but are done. It is a bit of a pain to put down, but well worth! and it does not hurt anything except the targeted organisms. Kids, pets, us, fish, birds, worms, honeybees, etc. are not affected!!!! The milky spore gets into the ground, the Japanese Beetle grub eats it on the roots, the spores multiply and POOF the grub explodes releasing even more spores! We have done this with two properties with great results. The more grubs, the more spores. The best cycle I can think of. First year you will see a reduction of the beetles. The next year they should pretty much be gone. If you live in a community, you may be able to talk your neighbors into applying it to their land as well. Everyone benefits. Bonus - it also gets rid of June beetle and earwig grubs as well. Aaand, wait there's more. It helps get rid of varmints like moles, skunks, raccoons, etc (provided there is no other food source like the grubs). No grubs, no food. No food, no moles, skunks, etc. We get ours from St Gabriel Organics. We have no affiliation with St Gabriel's Organics. It's just a great product. They make the milky spore. You can buy it from a vendor, but they will just get it from St Gabriel's Organics. Some of the other vendors may be less expensive.
Hope this helps.
Milky Spore
I had a terrible in gestation of these little buggers! They were living and eating my lone birch tree. Went to my local Garden Center and got the Milky Spore after talking to the garden lady who recommended it. Spread it around my tree like the directions said. That was 2 years ago. No new beetles til now. But there are very few and not in my birch tree. They are eating my hostas, which I don't mind. I hate those guys anyway!
japaneese bettles
Glad to see someone was using the beetles for food for something. I have been feeding the fish in my pond with them. They go crazy over them. I am getting tired of picking them off my beans, fruit trees and hazelnut bushes. Considering the trap method, fish would like more for sure.
beetles
Ive been catching tons this year in a bag trap...the thought struck me to just take the bag off in the evening and toss it in the freezer..kills them quickly..then the chickens have a treat in the morning...they do stink horribly if you leave them in a bag too long...my 2 cents
Stinky Beetles!
I loved your comment. I like the idea of freezing them, but doesn't it stink up the freezer?
japanese beetles
Last year I worked hard at hand picking Japanese beetles. Several times each day I would go out and hand pick them. I had some Virginia ivy - 5 leaves - which the beetles loved to chew. I would often lean into the vines to get the beetles. One evening while I was getting more beetles and leaning into the vines, I began to feel itchy. (I had worn jeans, a blouse, socks and and regular shoes outside.) Within 1 hour, my breast was very itchy and I took a look at myself and had to call my husband. I don't know if what I had were welts or hives on my breast and chest. Whatever I had continued to spread down to my mid legs. My arms, private areas, face, neck, and most of my back were spared. My husband put calamine lotion on me. I sat in front of the fan and had ice packs on me. The itch was very intense. Much worse than poison ivy. After about 6 hours the itch went away. And within 12 hours of the initial manifestation of the welts or whatever, I had small red dots which didn't bother me a bit!!!! Any idea on what caused all this?? We have 1 pin oak tree, but it is about 2 acres away and a lot of buildings and plants between where I began to feel itchy.
Ivy climber poisoning
My husband had exactly the same thing happen to him. An ancient oak dropped a massive branch which my husband went to clear and chop up on a warm day. Whilst there, he decided to cut back ivy climbing up the oak choking it and a silver queen holly growing beside the oak. He leaned into the ivy, cutting, pulling, and after 1 hr of hard work perspiring, he started to itch. He was not wearing gloves and got dusty, dirty and sticky from the ivy. He felt an itch on his neck and scratched at it and rubbed the dust off his stomach where his tee-shirt had rose up. He felt so awful with intense itch, he came in to wash in cold water but the itching got very intense and where he had touched himself a vicious rash appeared and spread. His stomach, his arms, his neck, and upper body. We used antihistamines, dabbed the areas with cotton wool balls soaked in witch hazel, and smoothered it all in calamine lotion twice a day and before bed. The itching became bearable within 3 days but continued until the rash had faded leaving him with red dots. He will be wearing gloves from now on when he has such work to do, and a face mask so he does not breathe in any spores.
Virginia
This also know as Virginia Creeper. Some people are allergic to this just like poison oak and poison ivy.
Beetles stripped my ornamental plum tree
Last year (2017) the beetles completely stripped my beautiful ornamental plum tree. Even though we treat our yard in the spring and fall, with Grub-X, it's of no use because neighbors don't treat. This year, due to the mild winter (Virginia) they are even worse than last year. Out of desperation, we did purchase a "beetle bag". Despite the fact those bags fill up every day, my poor tree looks terrible. Every leaf is filigreed and once again badly damaged. I sure hope my tree can withstand yet another year of damage.
I am going to try some of the "recipes" for natural trapping, as well as planting catnip and/or chamomile under the tree. Hopefully the beetles won't come near my tree.
There is another species of beetle, which looks like a JP on steriods. This beetle is about 3x the size of a JP, and stupid. They crash into the side of our house numerous times, before they realize they can't fly through. DUH
JP Beetles
After over 5 years of continual Japanese Beetle assaults on my ornamental Crowder Plum, they have finally killed it. Going to try a Redbud next. The other copper colored big beetle you are referring to, I think it's what Kansas people (me!) refer to as June Bugs maybe. They really are dumb!!!! LOL!!!
Plum tree
I had a plum tree that was just starting to produce fruit. I went out to the car one morning and seen all this black stuff all over it and looked around and my tree was completely filled with JB's.
Every leave was gone. Because it was located near my septic tank and the problems the roots could cause i desided to cut it down and put grub killer down .because with what looked like a billion JB's i didnt want to have it distroy any outher fruit trees in the yard. If you want to try to save it beause of the need for leaves to keep the roots alive you need to put grub killer around the tree and the width of the canopy of the tree.
Another trick on the beetles
I put just a little bleach in a bucket of water and floated one of the beetle bait lures on top of the water. I put the bucket on the ground under a trap. It is catching them! When the top is covered, I take a flower pot with holes in the bottom and scoop them out, let the water drain, then put them in a plastic bag. Good bye beetles.
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