Japanese Beetle

What are Japanese Beetles?

Japanese beetles are small bugs that carry a big threat. They do not discriminate on what types of plants they feed on. 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.

What do Japanese Beetles look like?

Japanese Beetles are ½ inch in length with metallic blue-green heads, copper backs, tan wings, and small white hairs lining each side of the abdomen. Japanese beetles usually feed in small groups. They lay eggs in the soil during June, which develop into tiny white grubs with brown heads and six legs that are up to ¾ inch in length. These grubs will remain under wraps for about 10 months, overwintering and growing in the soil.

How do I save trees or plants affected by Japanese Beetles? 

Nearly all soil insecticides provide adequate control of Japanese beetle grubs.
However, not all control products perform equally. The traditional approach has been to apply short residual products after eggs have hatched, but before grubs cause visible damage. This approach is termed “curative” control. The optimal timing for curative treatments is early to mid-August. Preventative insecticides are another effective management option that is typically preferred over curative insecticides due to greater level of control and a larger application window of time, May to July, due to their longer residual activity. Preventative insecticides are best applied prior to egg lay typically early July. The certified arborists at Capital City Tree Experts have the training with the insecticides needed to treat the beetle.