How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles

It is summer, and with the increased humidity and temperatures, new insects begin to emerge. Of the insects that we see in Fayetteville, NC, the Japanese Beetle can be the most frustrating. Showing up around June, these beetles have a voracious appetite for your crape myrtles, roses, camellias, and well, anything green! While Japanese Beetles will chew holes all through your plants, they very rarely kill the plant. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of Japanese Beetles.

Insecticide

Using insecticide will decrease the Japanese Beetle presence, but unfortunately, these beetles will come back within a week or so. Since Japanese Beetles only feed for 4-6 weeks during the summer, one can spray every week if the infestation is bad enough. It should be noted that using insecticide will also kill beneficial insects, such as bees, butterflies, etc.

Physically Remove Beetles

While removing the beetles one by one may seem inefficient, it may be the most effective method of getting rid of the Japanese Beetle infestation. Fill a buck full of soapy water and drop the beetles into the bucket as you pluck them off of the leaves. If you decide to remove the beetles physically, it is recommended that you do so early in the morning, when the beetles are not as active.

Beetle Traps

Beetle traps work by attracting the Japanese Beetle to the area with a sex hormone. The beetles crawl into the trap and are unable to fly out. While beetle traps do work, it should be noted that these traps lure more beetles to your location. We recommend that you hang the trap away from plants where these beetles are commonly found.

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