Japanese beetles, or june bugs, are metallic green with bronze wing covers. The larvae of the beetle, called grubs, are white with a brown head. The adults eat and attack foliage, fruits, and flowers while the grubs eat the roots of your plants.
Treatment Options:
- Hand-picking and placing the beetle in a soapy water bucket is a great way to get rid of these pests.
- Companion planting plants with a strong odor, such as garlic, can help to deter adults from eating the foliage.
- Milky spore has been shown to be one of the best treatments for killing the grubs that will eventually grow up into june bugs. After applying these naturally occurring white spores to the ground, the grubs will ingest the bacteria and die within a few weeks.
- Insect netting is one of the easiest way to prevent insect damage on your plants!
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth over areas you want to protect. Be careful though: DE can harm beneficial insects as well if they come in contact with it.
Plants to Especially Watch:
