I use a plastic fork and scrape them into a deli container of soapy water (I use either Dawn or Dr. Bronner's Peppermint. This will be a daily activity. I'm doing it twice a day. Don't get a trap--that just attracts them. At the end of summer and then again in the spring, generously spread Grubgone G on the ground and in your garden beds. We tried a lot of things before we found this product. It's expensive but it works. Most nurseries carry it, and you can also get it online. Don't bother with milky spore--it doesn't work. Japanese beetles love turf grass and feed on the roots. We stopped watering our lawn as often, and that helped.
Although we still have some Japanese beetle activity, it has been dramatically reduced since we started applying Grubgone G and watering less. I used to pick off about a hundred beetles a day from the plants, but now it's more like a couple of dozen.
I leave my rose as bait for the beetle. Can always find them there and drown them 2-3 times a day.
To be fair, it does seem they are less pronounced this year. I have seen momma birds feeding them to hatched babies.
I’ve heard a lot about treating for the grubs proactively. I have had bags in the past before I knew what I was doing. As a result the population of beetles every year is overwhelming. I’m hoping with years of treatment I can make a dent, but none of my neighbors do much mitigation so it’s a lost cause really.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky\_spore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_spore)
I apply this (the Amazon link is convenient, not a supplier recommendation) :
[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEBIURU/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEBIURU/)
There is a biological toxin (Bt ssp.galleriae) that targets only chewing beetles. So it won’t harm ladybugs, lacewings, butterflies, bees, etc. it acts as both a deterrent and it kills the beetles that ingest it. You can get it from Garden’s Alive, it’s called BeetleJus!
Unfortunately you have to spray again if it rains or sprinklers wash it off. But it is very effective in controlling Japanese beetles.
Replying after a long time - but do you know if it would kill lightning bugs (fireflies) too? Want to treat for japanese beetles but not harm our fireflies
I feel your pain. They are currently eating my bean leaves.
There are any number of pesticides that will take out Japanese beetles, but many can have significant collateral damage depending on how/when they are applied. Permethrin, for example, a synthetic pyrethrin, will kill them but will also kill the bees. Not what you want, probably. Ask at the best local garden center you have. They will steer you.
I’ve discovered a bunch of Japanese beetles drowned in my dogs’ backyard water bowls this year and I’m wondering if that’s a possible passive strategy. I haven’t had much of a problem with them otherwise this season (so far anyway)
There are bags you can buy with an attracting agent at the bottom. One day in and you’ll have a giant bag full of them. But you want to put it in a different area of your yard than the plants they like, otherwise you might attract more than you kill.
My neighbor hung his own trap on his fence that’s farthest from my yard. I’ve had exactly SEVEN JBs this year, and I have roses! (I know it’s 7 beetles from looking at my soapy container of death.)
I get a bucket of soapy water and knock them off the plants and into the bucket to kill them. Every day or two. They still are a problem though, they sit on my serviceberries and eat the leaves, and they eat just the flowers off my clematis so it's bare.
I have a small container with water and soap. I grab a plastic spoon and just push each beetle into the water. About 15-20 a day..has been working so far. Btw, they only get.on the yellow rose and red/pink roses next to yellow are untouched
They prefer certain colors and are attracted to lighter colors. I have several cannas and they only destroy the yellow one.
This year they are doing damage on my big white Dahlia. I knock them off into the beetle bucket but by that time the bloom is already been basically destroyed.
My strategy now is to cut the bloom just as it's opening and enjoy it indoors rather than feeding those bleeeeeps.
There is a a biological control for the adults called BeetleJUS (no really) if you use it with the milky spore for the grubs, should help.
BeetleJUS: https://www.gurneys.com/product/beetlejus-for-ornamental-and-vegetable-pests
Milky spore: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/insect-and-animal-control/insecticides/7105752
Most pesticides won't hurt them. I've tried them all including diatomaceous earth. No affect. CSU annex suggested this: keep a plastic container with soapy water in it and GENTLY knock them off the flowers and into the water. They drown in a few minutes. Don't squish them. They put out a scent that attracts more. Other than that... you can only stay vigilant.
I use a plastic fork and scrape them into a deli container of soapy water (I use either Dawn or Dr. Bronner's Peppermint. This will be a daily activity. I'm doing it twice a day. Don't get a trap--that just attracts them. At the end of summer and then again in the spring, generously spread Grubgone G on the ground and in your garden beds. We tried a lot of things before we found this product. It's expensive but it works. Most nurseries carry it, and you can also get it online. Don't bother with milky spore--it doesn't work. Japanese beetles love turf grass and feed on the roots. We stopped watering our lawn as often, and that helped. Although we still have some Japanese beetle activity, it has been dramatically reduced since we started applying Grubgone G and watering less. I used to pick off about a hundred beetles a day from the plants, but now it's more like a couple of dozen.
I leave my rose as bait for the beetle. Can always find them there and drown them 2-3 times a day. To be fair, it does seem they are less pronounced this year. I have seen momma birds feeding them to hatched babies.
I’ve heard a lot about treating for the grubs proactively. I have had bags in the past before I knew what I was doing. As a result the population of beetles every year is overwhelming. I’m hoping with years of treatment I can make a dent, but none of my neighbors do much mitigation so it’s a lost cause really.
I apply milky spore and it makes a difference.
What is this? And how?
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky\_spore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_spore) I apply this (the Amazon link is convenient, not a supplier recommendation) : [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEBIURU/](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AEBIURU/)
What have you done to be proactive?
Treating grubs it sounds like
There is a biological toxin (Bt ssp.galleriae) that targets only chewing beetles. So it won’t harm ladybugs, lacewings, butterflies, bees, etc. it acts as both a deterrent and it kills the beetles that ingest it. You can get it from Garden’s Alive, it’s called BeetleJus! Unfortunately you have to spray again if it rains or sprinklers wash it off. But it is very effective in controlling Japanese beetles.
Replying after a long time - but do you know if it would kill lightning bugs (fireflies) too? Want to treat for japanese beetles but not harm our fireflies
It only affects beetles that chew on plants.
Have you used this product? I am intrigued for my grapes
Yes, I use it and have for the last three or four summers. It’s quite effective.
Will give it a shot!
Bag em. Pick them and put them in a bag to die. Squishing brings more of them
I feel your pain. They are currently eating my bean leaves. There are any number of pesticides that will take out Japanese beetles, but many can have significant collateral damage depending on how/when they are applied. Permethrin, for example, a synthetic pyrethrin, will kill them but will also kill the bees. Not what you want, probably. Ask at the best local garden center you have. They will steer you.
I’ve discovered a bunch of Japanese beetles drowned in my dogs’ backyard water bowls this year and I’m wondering if that’s a possible passive strategy. I haven’t had much of a problem with them otherwise this season (so far anyway)
There are bags you can buy with an attracting agent at the bottom. One day in and you’ll have a giant bag full of them. But you want to put it in a different area of your yard than the plants they like, otherwise you might attract more than you kill.
The rule, for years, has been: put the Japanese beetle traps in your neighbor's yard.
My neighbor hung his own trap on his fence that’s farthest from my yard. I’ve had exactly SEVEN JBs this year, and I have roses! (I know it’s 7 beetles from looking at my soapy container of death.)
They're still relatively new on the front range, and there's a lot of misinformation out there. CSU Extension is still your best bet.
I get a bucket of soapy water and knock them off the plants and into the bucket to kill them. Every day or two. They still are a problem though, they sit on my serviceberries and eat the leaves, and they eat just the flowers off my clematis so it's bare.
I have a small container with water and soap. I grab a plastic spoon and just push each beetle into the water. About 15-20 a day..has been working so far. Btw, they only get.on the yellow rose and red/pink roses next to yellow are untouched
Yes, that's what I'm seeing at my place. I have a variety of rose bushes, but they're only on the yellow one.
They prefer certain colors and are attracted to lighter colors. I have several cannas and they only destroy the yellow one. This year they are doing damage on my big white Dahlia. I knock them off into the beetle bucket but by that time the bloom is already been basically destroyed. My strategy now is to cut the bloom just as it's opening and enjoy it indoors rather than feeding those bleeeeeps.
There is a a biological control for the adults called BeetleJUS (no really) if you use it with the milky spore for the grubs, should help. BeetleJUS: https://www.gurneys.com/product/beetlejus-for-ornamental-and-vegetable-pests Milky spore: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/insect-and-animal-control/insecticides/7105752
Most pesticides won't hurt them. I've tried them all including diatomaceous earth. No affect. CSU annex suggested this: keep a plastic container with soapy water in it and GENTLY knock them off the flowers and into the water. They drown in a few minutes. Don't squish them. They put out a scent that attracts more. Other than that... you can only stay vigilant.
Squishing them doesn’t attract more, that is a myth.