Japanese Beetle Control

Natural Solutions to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) feed on over 300 plant species including turf, fruit trees & ornamentals. Gardeners and homeowners consider them to be one of their most devastating pests as they cause substantial root damage in their grub phase and attract burrowing animals that dig up your lawn or garden bed in search of the for the grubs to eat. The adult beetles feed on plant foliage resulting in rapid defoliation and crop loss.

Not sure if you have Japanese Beetles? Use this ID Sheet to find out! Japanese beetle grubs overwinter 8-10 inches deep in the soil. As spring arrives and temperatures increase, the grubs move up in the soil to feed on plant roots. They pupate in late May to June with adults emerging in late June to mid-July. Adults live from 30 to 45 days and feed through late summer or early fall with females constantly laying eggs.

Japanese Beetles are highly mobile and continue to move west across the country. Click Here for the most recent Japanese Beetle distribution map from the USDA APHIS.

How To Control Japanese Beetles:

Grub Control
Beneficial Nematodes Hb NemaSeek: General purpose grub control.
Sr NemaSeek: Best choice for lawn/turf applications.
Milky Spore Powder: Great for garden and farm applications.
Granules: Ideal for turf applications or use with a hand spreader.
Neem Derivatives Neemcake: Protects plant roots from grubs & other soil dwelling pests.
Neem Seed Meal: Similar to neemcake, but with higher nitrogen content.
Adult Beetle Control
Surround WP (Kaolin Clay) A crop protectant and barrier to deter beetle feeding on foliage & fruit.
Pyrethrins PyGanic Gardening: 1.4% pyrethrin concentrate
BotaniGard Maxx: B. bassiana + Pyrethrins
Azadirachtin Azera Gardening: An azadirachtin & pyrethrins concentrate.
AzaGuard: 3% azadirachtin concentrate.
Debug Turbo: Concentrated neem oil & azadirachtin.