Last Updated on February 16, 2022 by
Did you know there are many home remedies for Japanese beetles that you can use to eliminate the most devastating pests?
The story starts in the early 1900s when the Japanese beetles found their way into the American ecosystem via shipments from Japan. What happened accidentally as a mistake has today cost America loads of money, eliminating them without much success.
Unfortunately, these Japanese beetles have very few natural predators in America, causing them to spread widely and damage thousands of plants quickly.
These green and copper-colored beetles are some of the most devastating pests in the Eastern parts of the United States. They love to feed on garden plants, causing a tremendous loss for farmers. So let’s learn how to get rid of Japanese beetles naturally. But before then, it’s essential to know what is the season they attack our plants.
When Is The Japanese Beetle Season?
The Japanese beetles are constantly feeding in groups. They are most active in the warmest summer months – mid-June to late August for the adults and late spring and fall for larvae. Immediately these adults emerge from the ground; they begin to feast on whatever plants they come across.
This destructive feeding can go on for a month or 2 all through summer, with countless damage left behind in the gardens. Their larvae are as damaging as the adults feeding on the roots while the adults feed on the leaves and stems. Within a short time, these beetles and their larvae leave behind wreckage on your farm or lawn.
The adults will turn all the plants into skeletons while their younger partners in crime consume grass and other roots from below the soil. Because these pests feed in groups and both from above and below, it’s easy for them to kill your garden or lawn within no time.
If you have noted these beetles are destroying your lawn, you might be looking for ways to eliminate them. We have several natural ways to help you accomplish your mission.
Top Best Home Remedies For Japanese Beetles
With all the destruction you have suffered, it’s time to look at Japanese beetle control home remedies that you can use to eliminate them. They include:
Hand Pick Them Off
Yees! The very first top-of-the-list remedy is to handpick them. It is one of the most effective ways to get rid of almost any garden pest. Collect these beetles early morning when they are sluggish and throw them off in a bucket of water to drown. This method eliminates almost all of these pests until you cannot find any remaining.
Use The Neem Oil
Ask any organic gardener, and they will swear by the effectiveness of neem oil in eliminating pests from their gardens. Spray neem oil mixed with water on your plants to slowly wipe out a whole generation of these beetles. Once the adults ingest, they will pass on the chemical to their eggs, essentially killing them. You will need to reapply for this solution after rain to ensure your plants remain protected all the time.
Bonide 023 Neem Oil Insecticide, White
Bring On The Guinea Fowl
Though these beetles have fewer predators, the guinea fowls can do a great job. Bring in guinea fowls in your garden and watch as they devour these beetles and other bugs in existence. Guinea fowls also have beautiful feathers and will eat all the bugs leaving your garden pest-free. These birds won’t tear up your garden; instead, they will only eat the beetles. If your garden has tall foliage, they may not reach it, but they care about the bottom part. Guinea fowls are quite an excellent addition to gardening.
Cover Your Rows
These beetles are only active for 6 to 8 weeks each year, and to protect your crops, you can cover your rows with floating row covers starting from mid-June.
Grow Geraniums
Beetles love geraniums, so planting them at the edge of your garden helps divert them from real plants. Geraniums kill beetles – once they ingest their blossoms, they fall dead. So, they not only divert their attention but eliminate them with ease.
Use Garlic
Garlic is not friendly to most pests, including the Japanese beetles. Planting garlic around your most precious plants helps repel them effectively.
Use Nematodes
Japanese beetles start as little grubs under the soil eating up the root system of plants and wreaking havoc to your lawn or garden. However, using nematodes, you can combat them. Beneficial nematodes, once applied, ensure that the grubs are controlled by eliminating them. Remember to apply the nematode as a live product to ensure they work.
Use The Peppermint Oil Mixture
Mint oil is one of the most valuable oils in gardening. It contains excellent natural pest repellants that keep beetles out of your garden. Mix at least 10 to 15 drops of pure peppermint oil into 8 ounces of water. Shake the mixture and spray it around the doorways, windows, and vents. The mint oil is affordable and easy to find in shops and online. It is safe to use around kids, pets and an easy but effective homemade remedy to use. To see good results, you will need to keep reapplying.
Go For The Sweet-Smelling Lavender
Lavender oil smells heavenly but repels beetles! To keep them out of your garden, but at least 10 drops of lavender oil into your spray bottle and add at least 10 drops of oil mixed into 8 ounces of water. This mixture is non-toxic to your plants and ideal for use around pets and kids. It has a pleasant smell that beetles dislike making it highly favorable for you.
FAQs
What home remedy kills Japanese beetles?
"Japanese Beetles", as the name implies, are a type of beetle. They're not "plant bugs" (as they are commonly called), but in fact, are true insects. As such, there's no such thing as a "home remedy" for them.
You can use some soap. Some soap will actually kill them, it works by being too heavy for them to fly away, and they drown in the soap.
I have been using the following spray as a home remedy for killing Japanese beetles.
The most effective and easiest way to control Japanese beetles is by using a mixture of water, sugar and dish soap. You can mix all of these together in a spray bottle and spray on your lawn.
You can also spray it around the house. It will work better if you have a window fan on. If you don't have a fan, put a fan on.
What do they feed on?
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) are native to Japan and are found throughout North America. They feed on a variety of woody plants including pines, oaks, cedars, spruces and hemlocks. The adult beetles are most active from March through May, and they can lay their eggs from late March through June.
What do Japanese beetle larvae eat?
Japanese beetle larvae eat a wide variety of vegetation, but their main diet consists of plants that have been infested by the adult beetles. Japanese beetle larvae are omnivorous and feed on roots, tubers, bulbs, stems and leaves. They are also attracted to a number of insects, including aphids and scale insects.
When my garden is infested with Japanese beetle what are the signs?
The first sign is usually yellowing or wilting of the plant. However, this can also be a result of poor air circulation, which could be caused by heavy rain or windy conditions. If you find that your plants are wilting, it is best to remove them from the garden immediately and dispose of them properly.
Why do people use chemical pesticides?
The most effective way to control Japanese beetles is by using a chemical insecticide. You can use a contact insecticide or a non-contact insecticide. Contact insecticides can be applied to the leaves, stems or flowers of plants. You can also apply insecticides around the base of plants and trees. Non-contact insecticides work by emitting insecticidal fumes into the air.
Conclusion
FAQs
What home remedy kills Japanese beetles?
"Japanese Beetles", as the name implies, are a type of beetle. They're not "plant bugs" (as they are commonly called), but in fact, are true insects. As such, there's no such thing as a "home remedy" for them.
You can use some soap. Some soap will actually kill them, it works by being too heavy for them to fly away, and they drown in the soap.
I have been using the following spray as a home remedy for killing Japanese beetles.
The most effective and easiest way to control Japanese beetles is by using a mixture of water, sugar and dish soap. You can mix all of these together in a spray bottle and spray on your lawn.
You can also spray it around the house. It will work better if you have a window fan on. If you don't have a fan, put a fan on.
What do they feed on?
Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman) are native to Japan and are found throughout North America. They feed on a variety of woody plants including pines, oaks, cedars, spruces and hemlocks. The adult beetles are most active from March through May, and they can lay their eggs from late March through June.
What do Japanese beetle larvae eat?
Japanese beetle larvae eat a wide variety of vegetation, but their main diet consists of plants that have been infested by the adult beetles. Japanese beetle larvae are omnivorous and feed on roots, tubers, bulbs, stems and leaves. They are also attracted to a number of insects, including aphids and scale insects.
When my garden is infested with Japanese beetle what are the signs?
The first sign is usually yellowing or wilting of the plant. However, this can also be a result of poor air circulation, which could be caused by heavy rain or windy conditions. If you find that your plants are wilting, it is best to remove them from the garden immediately and dispose of them properly.
Why do people use chemical pesticides?
The most effective way to control Japanese beetles is by using a chemical insecticide. You can use a contact insecticide or a non-contact insecticide. Contact insecticides can be applied to the leaves, stems or flowers of plants. You can also apply insecticides around the base of plants and trees. Non-contact insecticides work by emitting insecticidal fumes into the air.
Japanese beetles are an obnoxious pest that causes gardeners to go into an uproar anytime they invade their gardens. But, with a bit of diligence, you have learned how to get rid of beetles’ home remedies.
You are now armed with information that will cause your garden to thrive as you use it to fight off these pests that have proved too difficult for American farmers. You also have added up to your list of home remedies for Japanese beetles. If you have any other natural remedy you used and it worked magically for you, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments.
Caroline is a gardener who loves to get down to the nitty–gritty of gardening. She proudly proclaims herself as a ‘dirt worshipper‘ and can often be found deep in the garden, covered in soil and singing to her plants. As a self–proclaimed ‘plant whisperer‘, Caroline believes that plants need love and attention just like any other living thing, and she loves to give them both. When she‘s not tending to her garden, you can often find her researching the latest gardening trends, or teaching others how to make their gardens thrive
