It's finally summer; your roses are blooming, fruit is ripening on the branch, and your perennial hibiscus has finally developed buds. Looking around your garden, you notice that blooms aren't the only thing that seems to have popped up overnight. Small green bugs are crawling and... hugging (mating)... all over your garden, munching on the blooms and foliage of your beloved gardens. What are these garden pests?
Japanese beetles are small, iridescent green insects that emerge in early summer and persist until early August - their presence is only noticeable for about 6 weeks.
Tip 1: Don't crush, squish, or stomp on Japanese beetles!
While mashing these garden invaders may seem cathartic, it is important to know that the pulverization of these beetles will actually worsen the infestation. When crushed, Japanese beetles release a strong scent that will attract other beetles to the area.
Tip 2: Set a trap AS FAR AWAY as possible!
Japanese beetle traps work exceptionally well - if used properly! The bait attracts the beetles towards the bags, and trapping them in the funnelled bag. Since they are attracted to the scent, you will notice a larger amount of beetles congregating nearby. If you place the bait too close to a plant affected by beetles, you will likely see more damage.
In simple terms, if your garden is in the backyard, put the trap in the front yard. If you have an area of your yard that has little to no plants, that is an ideal space as well!
Tip 3: Prevention and patience is key!
Japanese beetles have very poor balance and coordination. If you put dish soap and water into a cup or bowl and knock the beetles into the solution, they will drown. By removing large infestations early, the beetles will be less likely to mate on your plants since they will smell larger infestations elsewhere.
Tip 4: Spray nematodes in the fall or spring to reduce their larvae population!
The most efficient way to reduce the Japanese beetle population is to apply a beneficial nematode spray to your landscape. After the beetles mate in the summer, they burrow in the grass to lay their eggs. If you've ever seen white grubs under your lawn, you've likely seen the larvae of a Japanese beetle. Beneficial nematodes target these grubs without harming your lawn and other beneficial insects, effectively reducing the beetle population on your property!
Even though Japanese beetles are poor flyers, they can still travel a decent distance within a neighbourhood. The more of your neighbours that practice prevention by applying nematodes, the more effective your application will be! Share the news, tips, and tricks with everyone you know!
Tip 5: Choose plants that are beetle-resistant!
Japanese beetles prefer "sweeter" foliage and blooms to eat. You will likely see them on fruit trees, sand cherries, lindens, roses, and hibiscus plants. Beetles do not like evergreen plants such as cedars, pines, and spruces. They also avoid textured leaf plants such as coneflowers, geum, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
Japanese beetles are irritating, unsightly, and voracious; but the good news is they are rarely terminal to mature plants and are harmless to humans. With these invasive bugs, patience, persistence, and prevention is key.