Natural Way To Keep Japanese Beetles Off Garden Plants
| Japanese beetles are probably the most serious pests infecting ornamental plants. These insects measure 3/8 inches in length and consist of a shiny metallic back with copper-brown wings. Japanese beetles primarily feed on plant foliage and fruit. Larvae of Japanese beetles are grayish-white grubs that live in the soil and feed on grass roots and also damage young seedlings. |
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Japanese beetles are short-term infestations that return every year as these insects can fly in from anywhere. Some plants that are seriously attacked by Japanese beetles include apple, plum, rose, cherry, grape, American chestnut, black cherry, red cherry and black walnut.
There are various means of controlling the menace of Japanese beetles. Although, there is no effective way to control adults, larvae of these insects present in the soil can be effectively killed so as to reduce the population of beetles in the coming years. There are various kinds of insecticides available in the market that can be sprayed on to the soil. Some of these insecticides include carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, malathion, permethrin and trichlorfon.
Apart from using insecticides, there are certain natural ways to control Japanese beetles. There are certain plant species that repel adult beetles. These include white mums, rue, tansy, larkspur, garlic and citronella. These plants can be interspersed in between other garden plants so as to keep the beetles away from the garden. One can also use garlic and citronella sprays to help repel beetles. Other biological control methods include usage of beneficial nematodes and Milky Spores that are known to attack only grubs.
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