Japanese Beetle: A Complete Guide for American Homeowners

If you are a gardener or a homeowner in the United States, most likely you have seen the Japanese beetle. Such shiny metallic beetles can do a great deal of harm to your plants and lawns, and are the top pests that you need to be concerned about. In this blog, we will delve into the Japanese beetle life cycle, and at the same time, we will give you a step-by-step plan on how do you get rid of Japanese beetles. Follow through for real, hands-on information that will enable you to shield your home garden from these beetles.

What is a Japanese Beetle?

Japanese beetle is a small and oval insect presenting a shiny body in green color and brown wings. The Japanese beetle native to Japan, is now also a nuisance in the greater part of the United States, and it is a fact that it eats on a large number of plants, including roses, grapes, and turfgrass. The adult beetle is about half an inch long and is easily spotted by the white tufts along its sides.

Japanese Beetle Life Cycle

One of the most important aspects of how to control the Japanese beetle is to know the Japanese beetle life cycle. It starts with the adult beetles that come out of the soil in late spring to early summer. The females deposit the eggs in the soil, from which, after two weeks, the larvae (grubs) will emerge. Such grubs eat the roots of grass and any other organic material, and thus they become a big menace to the lawns.

The Japanese beetle life cycle passes through the following stages:

• Egg: Deposited on the soil, and hatching in midsummer.
• Larva (Grub): White C-shaped grubs are root feeders, and would be up to an inch long by late summer.
• Pupa: Larvae transform to pupae in the soil late in spring hence these are converted to adults.
• Adult: Comes out in early summer, eating and mating for 30–45 days.

A large portion of the beetle life cycle is in the ground, but the adults have a short above-ground phase. The cycle could take two years in the northern parts of the U.S, but otherwise it usually finishes within one year.

How Do You Get Rid of Japanese Beetles?

Have you got in mind a question like how do you get rid of Japanese beetles? An effective management of the situation calls for a blend of methods, which are targeted at both adults and grubs. Here are some tested ways:

Handpicking

As long as it is still early in the morning at the time of the beetles being sluggish you can take them off the plants carefully and put them in a bucket of soapy water. This popular technique could be very useful in eradicating the adult population of the beetle.

Natural and Biological Controls

• Neem Oil: The spraying of neem oil on the affected area interrupts the life cycle of the Japanese beetle and also drives away the adults.
• Milky Spore & Beneficial Nematodes: These treatments, which are of biological nature, aim at the grubs in the soil to break the life cycle of the Japanese beetle and thus drastically decrease the number of new infestations.
• Companion Planting: Garlic, chives, and catnip planting has the power to chase away beetles as they are natural repellents.

Traps

Though commercial traps bring beetles far away from the most precious part of the garden, it is advisable to find the right place to set them so that the beetle will not be drawn into the garden from the surrounding areas but from the farthest place.

Chemical Controls

• Pyrethrin-based Sprays: These are good for adults, but be careful and do not harm pollinators.
• Systemic Insecticides: Pest control agents containing imidacloprid or chlorantraniliprole may eliminate grubs; still, you must use these agents cautiously and follow the label directions.

Lawn and Garden Maintenance

It is important that you continue to look after your plants so that you can catch any problems early. During the period when the insect is laying eggs, the watering should reduced, thus the lawn will be less attractive to the females that want to lay eggs.

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Conclusion

The Japanese beetle is a tenacious menace, however, and knowledge regarding the life cycle of the Japanese beetle and the solution to the question, “do Japanese beetles bite?” will put you in a position to act. And using a mix of handpicking, biological controls, and good insecticide practices, you will be able to keep your landscape healthy and have a good-looking yard, too. Looking to know more and get reliable solutions to pest control problem, don’t forget to visit saynopest-your ally against Japanese beetles.