
How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles
- 1. Spray a homemade soap-and-water solution. ...
- 2. Pick the Japanese beetles off plants by hand. ...
- 3. Spray the affected plants with neem oil. ...
- 4. Set beetle traps away from targeted plants. ...
- 5. Use row covers during peak feeding period. ...
- 6. Bring in parasitic nematodes to eat Japanese beetle grubs. ...
- 7. Plant geraniums close to the plants you want to protect. ...
What is the best treatment for Japanese beetles?
- Make sure the nematodes are fresh because they are living organisms. ...
- Beneficial nematodes only attack soil dwelling pests, such as Japanese beetles, fleas, German cockroaches, termites, and ants. ...
- You can purchase nematodes online, at garden centers, or at most major home improvement retailers.
When to apply milky spore powder for Japanese beetles?
- Apply the powder anytime during the year, as long as the soil is at least 65 °F (18 °C).
- To check the temperature of the soil, stick a metal thermometer roughly 3 inches (7.6 cm) deep into the soil.
- If the soil is below 65 °F (18 °C), the grubs won’t be feeding and the powder won’t be ingested.
Does Mint keep away Japanese beetles?
In general, bugs, spiders, and mammals all hate the mint family. Something about the smell of the plant can keep raccoons away, deer out of your garden, and Japanese beetles off your prized plants. To use peppermint essential oil, combine 10-15 drops for every 1 cup of water and mix in a glass spray bottle.
How to make Japanese beetle repellent?
How to Stop the Japanese Beetle by Using Homemade Repellents
- Grow repellent plants in your garden near the infestation site. Plants such as catnip, chives, garlic, tansy and rue are said to be repellents for Japanese beetles.
- Spray the plants with soap. Combine two tbsp. ...
- Remove any beetles from the plants by picking them off and dropping them into a bucket of soapy water.

How do I get rid of Japanese beetles without killing my plants?
SOAP + WATER SPRAY Mix 4 tablespoons of dish soap with a quart of water inside a spray bottle. This simple solution makes for a great, all natural Japanese Beetle pesticide. Spray on any beetles you see on or around your lawn & garden.
Will soapy water keep Japanese beetles off plants?
A simple solution of water and dish soap can suffocate Japanese beetles. Grab a bucket and mix a quart of water with a teaspoon of dish soap. Once you mix the water with dish soap, the least “touchy” solution is to pour the soapy water into a spray bottle and spray the beetles on your affected plants.
How do I get rid of Japanese beetles on my leaves?
10 ways to get rid of Japanese beetlesHand-picking. ... Neem oil spray. ... Homemade insecticide. ... Dead beetles as repellent. ... Drop cloth. ... Attract predators and parasites. ... Plant geraniums as a natural pesticide. ... Bait plants.More items...•
What is the best product to get rid of Japanese beetles?
The best way to treat for Japanese Beetles is to conduct a broadcast treatment of Dominion 2L to the active areas where you have noticed them. Dominion 2L is a neonicotinoid insecticide that works systemically to kill larvae that may be feeding on roots in the soil as well as kill adults on contact.
Will vinegar keep Japanese beetles away?
3. Does vinegar deter Japanese beetles? Vinegar sprays can kill Japanese beetles, but they also kill your plants. We don't recommend using vinegar directly on your plants, and you would have to spray it directly on the leaves for effective Japanese beetle control.
How do you get rid of Japanese beetles once and for all?
Homemade soap and water solution Grab a bucket or bowl and combine a quart of water with a teaspoon of dish soap. Mix the solution thoroughly and then pour it into a spray bottle. The solution can be applied to affected areas, causing the beetle to drop from the plant.
Do coffee grounds repel Japanese beetles?
You can boil the coffee grounds along with a few gallons of water and use it as a spray or simply spread some coffee grounds on the soil. This will help keep away the beetles, or suffocate them to death.
What liquid kills Japanese beetles?
Neem oil and sprays containing potassium bicarbonate are somewhat effective, especially on roses. The adult beetles ingest a chemical in the neem oil and pass it on in their eggs, and the resulting larvae die before they become adults.
What smell keeps Japanese beetles away?
Japanese Beetles use their antennae to pick up scents that attract them to their mates and various plants. You can repel Japanese Beetles by utilizing scents they hate, such as wintergreen, gaultheria oil, teaberry oil, peppermint oil, neem oil, wormwood oil, juniper berry oil, chives, and garlic.
How do you get rid of Japanese beetles fast?
Japanese Beetles In Sudsy Water A simple solution of a squirt or two of dish washing soap and water provides an effective trap for Japanese beetles. A simple solution of a squirt or two of dish washing soap and water provides an effective trap for Japanese beetles.
How long does a Japanese beetle infestation last?
Activity is most intense over a 4 to 6 week period beginning in late June, after which the beetles gradually die off. Individual beetles live about 30 to 45 days.
Does Epsom salt deter Japanese beetles?
Epsom Salt Solution Insect Control– A mixture of 1 cup (240 ml.) Epsom salt and 5 gallons (19 L.) of water may act as a deterrent to beetles and other garden pests. Mix the solution in a large bucket or other container and then apply the well-dissolved mixture to foliage with a pump sprayer.
Why Use soapy water for Japanese beetles?
Soapy Water Japanese beetles are sluggish and sleepy in the early morning and their iron-like grips are often very relaxed making them easy to shake off. They are also less likely to take flight when shaken off in the early morning and more likely to land in your soapy water.
Will Irish Spring soap keep Japanese beetles away?
Tip. Irish Spring soap repels mammal pests, such as mice, rabbit and deer. It does not repel insect pests.
Will coffee grounds keep Japanese beetles away?
You can boil the coffee grounds along with a few gallons of water and use it as a spray or simply spread some coffee grounds on the soil. This will help keep away the beetles, or suffocate them to death.
Does Epsom salt deter Japanese beetles?
Epsom Salt Solution Insect Control– A mixture of 1 cup (240 ml.) Epsom salt and 5 gallons (19 L.) of water may act as a deterrent to beetles and other garden pests. Mix the solution in a large bucket or other container and then apply the well-dissolved mixture to foliage with a pump sprayer.
What are some ways to control Japanese beetles?
Japanese Beetle Traps: Japanese beetle traps can be helpful in controlling large numbers of beetles, but they also might attract beetles from beyond your yard. Eugenol and geraniol, aromatic chemicals extracted from plants, are attractive to adult Japanese beetles as well as to other insects.
What Are Japanese Beetles?
These small insects 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.
What do grubs eat?
Prior to becoming adult beetles in June, they are 1-inch-long, white, c-shaped grubs live in the soil and feed on the roots of many plants. Often, these grubs are a problem in lawns.
How long do Japanese beetles live underground?
These grubs will remain underground for about 10 months, overwintering and growing in the soil.
Why is my lawn brown?
Unhealthy, Brown Patches in Lawn. Japanese beetle grubs damage grass when overwintering in the soil, as they feast on the roots of lawn grasses and garden plants. This can cause brown patches of dead or dying grass to form in the lawn, which will pull up easily thanks to the weakened roots.
Why are Japanese beetles dangerous?
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are iridescent green beetles that carry a big threat because they will feed on a wide variety of plants. You'll often be able to identify the damage because their leaf chewing leaves a lacy skeleton.
How to make a spray for dust?
Or, try this homemade solution : Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of vegetable oil and shake well; then add it to 1 quart of water.
What happens when Japanese beetles eat plants?
Then when the Japanese Beetles eat your plants they will ingest the neem oil. Which then impacts their offspring. So what happens is the adult Japanese Beetle ingests the neem oil spray, then they lay eggs, and the neem oil carries over to their babies.
Why do guineas protect grape vines?
For instance, I have large grape vines. The guineas protect the bottom and the middle part of those vines like crazy because they can eat the beetles on them.
Why do beetles fall to the ground?
This in turn, causes them to fall to the ground. Well, that happens to be a great thing for you because you can then sweep them up off of the ground and dispose of them in a bucket of soapy water .
How long does it take for Japanese beetles to come out?
Did you know that Japanese beetles only come out about 6-8 weeks out of the year for a feeding period?
What are row covers good for?
So row covers can come in handy for many things, but especially for battling Japanese Beetles.
When are Japanese beetles active?
Did you know that Japanese Beetles are most active in the morning? Well, they are.
Do Japanese beetles like geraniums?
My final suggestion is for you to plant geraniums in your garden. Japanese Beetles absolutely love geraniums . They think they are the best tasting treat.
How do nematodes work?
Nematodes: Nematodes work similar to the milky spores in that they kill grubs after entering their body. When used in combination with milky spores, nematodes can greatly reduce and control the Japanese beetle population around your plants. 7.
How to keep bugs away from garlic plants?
First, plant garlic as an outer border for your garden to keep the bugs away. Secondly, make a spray using garlic powder and baby oil. Spritz the leave s with it every few days to keep the beetles from munching on your plants. 5.
What plants do Japanese beetles like?
If you have a huge pest problem, it may be best to stay away from their favorites. Japanese beetles like apple, birch, rose, crape myrtle, pin oak, cherry, and plum.
What is the worst pest to have around the garden?
Japanese beetles are one of the worst pests to have around your garden. They can wreak a ton of havoc, and in no time at all the plants and leaves look terrible. Fortunately, there are some ways you can battle against these bugs and get rid of Japanese beetles in your garden – and in a safe manner too! If you enjoy gardening but hate seeing your ...
How to get rid of Japanese beetles in garden?
7 Safe Ways to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles in the Garden. 1. Handpicking: Removing the Japanese beetles you see manually may be time-consuming, but it’s one of the most effective ways to get them out of the garden. Fill a bucket with hot soapy water and hold it beneath the plants as you gently shake them. The bugs will fall into the water and drown ...
How long does it take for a grub killer to work?
This method can take a year or two to fully be effective, but it can work well for 10-15 years once implemented. 6.
What is the best way to deter beetles from a garden?
The bugs will fall into the water and drown by morning. The smell they give off in the bucket will help fend off other beetles. 2. Baby Powder: Using baby powder is a great deterrent for smaller gardens or just a selection of plants.
When is Japanese Beetle Season?
This activity can take place for a month or two throughout summer.
What do grub worms eat?
In addition, their young can be just as devastating. Grub worms commonly feed on the roots of grasses and seedlings.
How to prevent Japanese beetles?
If you do happen to have an outbreak, simply pick them off plants or gently shake them off in the early morning. Place them into a bucket of soapy water.
Who is the author of Bulb O Licious Garden?
By: Nikki Tilley, Author of The Bulb-o-licious Garden. Printer Friendly Version. Image by abaker64. Considered as one of the most devastating insect pests, especially in eastern parts of the United States, Japanese beetles love to feed on garden plants. Let’s look at how get rid of Japanese beetles.
