It won’t be long and our “friends” the Japanese beetles will join us in our gardens munching on raspberry bushes, grapes, linden trees, roses and other plants. The beetles can be very destructive. The beetles start as a white grub and the adult beetles typically come out in late June hanging around through August. During that time they eat, mate, and lay eggs in your lawn to start the cycle again next year.
When in feeding stage the grubs can eat the roots of your lawn and reduce the root system enough that grass can die in the summer heat and dry winds. The adult beetles also chew on leaves, leaving them with a lacy or skeletonized look. There are a variety of sprays, lawn treatments and traps to deal with these bugs.
Grubs can be treated with a granular treatment, Bonide Grub Beater, which can eliminate grubs and the lawn damage they cause. As for the adult beetles you can physically remove them from plants and toss them in soapy water. If you are looking for a chemical approach, a spray like Bonide Captain Jack’s Dead Bug, Beetle Killer, or Eight can be used. These sprays can also damage beneficial insects like bees so be sure to read and follow all directions on the label and don’t spray where bees are feeding. Traps can also be used to attract and kill the beetles.