July 1, 2024

Getting Rid of Japanese Beetles in Northeast Ohio Gardens

japanese beetles

disrupting the cycle

Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) are somewhat pretty, yet incredibly destructive, pests that first arrived in North America around 100 years ago. And they’ve been driving gardeners nuts ever since. But it doesn’t have to be so! If you know the life cycle of Japanese Beetles, plus when & how to disrupt it, you can easily stop these nuisance creatures right in their hungry little tracks. 

pretty but problematic

Adult Beetles

In Northeast Ohio, adult Japanese Beetles typically emerge from the soil mid-June through early July. They immediately begin chewing on & feeding on their go-to plants, which include varieties of rose, rose of sharon, linden, fruiting trees & shrubs, and so many more. They continue feeding feverishly on favorite plants for the next 4-6 weeks, putting out a congregation pheromone that acts as a “bat signal” to attract more beetles to the communal food source. This is typically the period of time gardeners are most aware of and frustrated by the wake of plant defoliation and destruction they leave behind. But there are solutions available for this!

Protective Cover

Harvest-Guard®

Harvest-Guard® protective garden covers are a great cultural, no-harm option because they simply provide a physical barrier to the plant. Available in several sizes, they are often used as frost cloth to protect tender plant tissue from extreme cold snaps. In the case of insect infestation, the lightweight cover also makes a perfect physical barrier for keeping insects like Japanese Beetles from having the opportunity to successfully latch onto your plant as a food source.

Bonide® Solution

Japanese Beetle Killer®

Knocking beetles off the plants into a container of soapy water is an easy, low-cost or economical way to eliminate beetles in the early days of infestation (or handpicking & squishing them). But if you get overrun by them, Bonide® Japanese Beetle Killer® is a ready-to-use spray available to kill Japanese Beetles by contact, as well as a number of other pests like aphids, stink bugs, flea beetles, whiteflies, and more. It contains the active ingredient Pyrethrum for a quick & easy kill. As always, our recommendation is to apply responsibly, per package directions, and late in the evening to minimize risk to pollinators.

Bonide® Trap

Beetle Bagger™ Kit

If all else fails, Beetle Bagger™ is a trap that protects up to 5,000 square feet during the infestation period. Japanese Beetles find it to be irresistible, given its dual floral-pheromone lure system. The kit system securely traps the attracted insects in the provided bag over a period of time, after which point the bags and their contents can be discarded. Be aware, by placing a trap, you will proactively attract beetles to the spot, so it’s important to place the trap at the edge of your property (or work with neighbors to determine an ideal spot) far away from the plants you all wish to protect.

what you may not know

Beetle Grubs

Here’s the alarming part you can’t see happening at first. Every summer in Northeast Ohio, as the adult Japanese Beetles mate, they lay eggs in your lawn  (oh, joy!). Within days, those eggs hatch into white grubs that burrow deeper into the soil. There, they will feed on grass roots all season long. Then they’ll hibernate over winter, and emerge as next summer’s adults. Evidence of their presence may be yellow, spongy spots in the lawn. The way to be sure? Peel back a 3-inch-deep, 1-square-foot flap of grass to check! If you find grubs, follow this next step.

Scotts® Solution

GrubEx® Granules

A single application of GrubEx® in spring or early summer can prevent grubs of all kinds from damaging your lawn all season long, especially killing the Japanese Beetle larvae (grubs) so they never get the chance to develop into adults. Applied anytime April through July, the product will help control a Japanese Beetle infestation.

Thinking Further Ahead

If you discover grubs in your lawn in late summer, roughly August through September, the protocol we recommend for Northeast Ohio is to apply BioAdvanced® 24 Hour Grub Killer Plus, which will immediately destroy all the grubs in your lawn, ensuring they don’t have the opportunity to hibernate over winter. If Japanese Beetle grubs have been a thorn in your side for multiple seasons, consider applying Milky Spore 3 times per year (spring, summer, and fall) for 2 years in a row. It’s a natural bacteria that actually invades the grubs, killing them and effectively inoculating your lawn.

Planting for Resistance

Amazingly, certain plants are highly effective at repelling Japanese Beetles, and so they make for very purposeful companions to your beetle-susceptible plants! Consider planting fragrant perennials from the Mint family including Bee Balm (Monarda), Catmint (Nepeta), Lavender (Lavandula), and Meadow Sage (Salvia nemorosa). Varieties from the Onion family like Allium and Garlic are also effective.

bringing it all together

Understanding how Japanese Beetles have managed to persist in Northeast Ohio means you know their destructive impact, life cycle, and that you have options for dealing with them. If you take the time to recognize the signs of their presence, you can also act to disrupt their plans by using physical barriers, control products, and by taking preventive measures for the future.

Search for Your Location

We have ten locations across Northeast Ohio, spanning the Cleveland, Akron-Canton, and Youngstown communities. Search here to find the location most convenient for you.

Loading Locations...