What Do Japanese Beetles Look Like?
Japanese beetles have shiny metallic green heads and thoraxes with copper-colored wing covers. Adult beetles are about half an inch long. They have small patches of white hair lining each side of their abdomen. Japanese beetles have rough spines on their legs that might feel prickly against your skin. Their larvae are milky white-colored grubs with brown heads. The grubs are about half an inch long, C-shaped, and are found in the soil.
What are the Signs of a Japanese Beetle Infestation?
Japanese beetles are one of the most widespread turf pests in Wisconsin. They feed on more than 300 plant species, particularly rose bushes, beans, grapes, raspberries, linden, and apple trees. Skeletonized leaves and brown patches of dead grass in the lawn are the most common signs of Japanese beetles on your property.
Get Rid of Japanese Beetles in the Yard
Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control offers professional Japanese beetle control and extermination services in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. Our pest management professionals use a combination of grub treatments and spray treatments to effectively eradicate Japanese beetles. Start at the grub stage in early summer to kill larvae. Our treatments provide residual grub control for four months or longer and even improve the quality of your turf.
Are Japanese Beetles Harmful?
Japanese beetles do not harm humans or pets, but they can damage plants and lawns. Adult beetles are voracious eaters, consuming leaves, flowers, and fruit. Although a single beetle may not cause much harm, Japanese beetles usually feed in groups and can rapidly cause significant damage. Furthermore, their larvae consume grassroots, leading to large brown patches of dead or dying grass in the lawn.
Japanese Beetle FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Japanese beetles an invasive species in Wisconsin?
Japanese beetles are an invasive species in Wisconsin. The beetle is native to Japan and was first noticed in the eastern United States in the early 1900s through international commerce and trade. Japanese beetles survived because of the favorable climate, various species of plants to feed on, and few natural predators.
What do Japanese beetles eat?
Japanese beetles feed on many different plants. Adults eat the leaves, flowers, and fruits. Preferred plants include rose, linden, grape, apple, crabapple, cherry, maple, and plum trees. They will also eat corn, okra, rhubarb, raspberries, and asparagus. Japanese beetle larvae or grubs feed on grass roots in the soil.
Do Japanese beetles bite?
Japanese beetles do not bite or sting. Their mandibles are used to chew leaves and are too weak to break through skin. They do have spiny legs that might feel prickly against your skin.
Do NOT use beetle traps!
Japanese beetle bag traps actually attract more beetles to your yard. You’ll be attracting beetles from all over town and end up with a worse problem!