Dealing with Japanese Beetles

When Japanese beetles invade your yard, you’ve got to act fast. They may be beautiful, but their beauty hides the fact that they are one of the most destructive bugs out there. Once one shows up and starts munching on your shrubs, it gives off a pheromone that draws more beetles to your yard. Each beetle puts off the pheromone, so you can see how the situation can quickly escalate.

The biggest mistake you can make is to run down to the garden store and pick up one of the popular Japanese beetle traps. These traps seem effective, because they capture a lot of beetles. The problem is, they use the Japanese beetle pheromone to bring them in – and as a result, draw more beetles to your plants than they kill.

The best way to control these pests is to treat your plants with an insecticide. Natural options include insecticidal soap and pyrethrins. Make sure you read and follow the labels on these products. You’ll likely need multiple applications, and the earlier into the invasion, the better your results will be.

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