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Peter, Rochester

"Turfgrasses trap much of an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the U.S. atmosphere."

Japanese Beetles

The adult Japanese Beetle is approximately 3/8-1/2" in length. The body is bright metallic green with the shell mostly brownish or reddish orange.

These beetles become a very visible problem in the landscapes, usually beginning in June, and lasting several weeks. They feed on a wide variety of plants- rose, linden, grape, plum and many others. They feed on the leaves, flowers and fruits of plants. They do not eat the veins of the leaves, so the foliage shows a skeletonized effect.

The adult beetles lay eggs in July or August. The eggs hatch into gray-white grubs which begin feeding immediately on the fibrous roots of the turfgrasses. They feed for several weeks and over winter in the soil below the frost line. They begin to eat grass roots again in April or shortly after the soil thaws. They stop feeding around mid-May to pupate. The adult Japanese Beetles emerge in late June (usually 1000 growing degree days) and feed on foliage for five to seven weeks before mating.

On garden plants and small shrubs, the adults can be periodically hand picked and destroyed. An easy method is to shake the beetles from the plants early in the morning. Spread a drop cloth under the plant and shake. The beetles will fall on the drop cloth where they can be collected and destroyed. For large plantings, several insect controls can be used. Follow label directions as to when to apply the control. Additional applications may be needed to control this persistent insect. Japanese beetle traps are discouraged as they act as an attractant to your plant material and can lead to increased damage.

Information gathered from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Monroe County. RN 02/02