Japanese Beetles since being introduced into the United States over 80 years ago in a New Jersey nursery, have continued to flourish and destroy millions if not billions of dollars worth of landscaping to include lush lawns and valuable ornamentals. Upon first infestation it is better to not panic and break out the artillery, but to begin a practice of a daily regimen of individual insect removal.

Treatment of Japanese Beetles

 Don’t put up a Bag a Bug at the first sightings of Japanese Beetles. If just a few are present, pull them off, and drop them into soapy water to kill them. This is best if done early in the morning or evening when they are less active. The traps often times will encourage other beetles to visit your yard that may not have visited it if you had not lured them to your yard in the first place.

Using Insecticides to control the little pests . When choosing to use an insecticide, read and follow all directions. There are many different insecticides. Some may have residual affects, and others such as insecticidal soaps will just kill the bugs on contact, but will not have any lasting affects.

Using traps such as Bag a Bug . Read the directions before installing, and place away from landscaping and gardens. Research has shown that the traps actually attract more bugs than would be in the yard prior to using. If you live in a neighborhood were others are not using them, you may be wasting your time.

Early Treatment. Another step in the battle against the Japanese Beetles is to attack the larvae or the grubs while they are small. This should be done not only to reduce the number of beetles, but to keep the grubs from eating the roots of turf grass. These little guys and gals have been known to destroy many a green lawn.

Start to treat the young grubs in mid July to August and September. At these times they are still pretty small and near the surface, so they are easier to kill. The second best time to treat for them is March to April when they again are closer to the top of the soil, but at this time, they are much bigger, so they will be much more difficult to kill.

Differing Methods. The methods for treating grubs are not the same as for the adult beetles. Both chemical and non-chemical methods differ greatly. One USDA approved chemical free method of grub control that has been increasing in popularity is the use of Nematodes, which are parasitic roundworms which seek out the grubs. These can be purchased from garden centers and can be applied with a generic garden sprayer, but once they are mixed with water, they must be applied not only as soon as possible, but as evenly as possible. Again read all directions.

Resources:

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/japanese-beetle/jbeetle.html
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Entomology/entfacts/trees/ef409.htm
http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/grubs.htm
http://www.earthinhandlandscape.com/grub_control.html
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2001.html