Japanese Beetles
GET BACK! By Joshua Fuder [HomeLife] The Japanese beetle was first observed in the United States in New Jersey in 1916. Every summer since, it has devoured the fruit and foliage of more than 275 kinds of trees, shrubs, flowers, and other plants. Some years, it appears that nothing goes unaffected — from ripening peaches to corn silks to the leaves of our favorite rose.
Serving Woodstock, including Towne Lake
The life cycle takes about a year, and the adult stage only lasts about 4-6 weeks. Egg-laying takes place in July when the female burrows 2-4 inches into the soil and lays small clusters of eggs. About ten days later, the larvae hatch, move into the root zone, and begin feeding on roots. Larvae move deeper into the soil during the winter. As soil temperatures rise in the spring, they move back into the root zone to resume feeding. Pupation into adult beetles takes place in late April and May. Perhaps the only good thing about the beetles is that their adult stage is relatively short-lived. Many established plants can tolerate some foliage loss early in the summer and push out new growth.
placed over more valuable plants during the weeks of high activity. Insecticides can work to protect plants, but applications often need to be repeated every 3-4 days. Beetle traps are not recommended because the pheromone tends to bring more Japanese beetles into an area than are captured. Treating lawn areas with granular insecticides for grubs will reduce grub damage to turf, but since adults fly, this won’t necessarily reduce beetle damage to plants. A diverse landscape will attract beneficial insects that serve as predators, particularly of the larval life stage.
Control While many birds, from robins to blackbirds, feed on adult beetles, they will likely not eat enough to prevent damage to plants. Handpicking adults and dropping them into soapy water will work in small areas. Floating row covers can be
Joshua Fuder is an agriculture and natural resources agent at the UGA Cooperative Extension Cherokee County. Contact the UGA Extension office for any gardening assistance, 770-721-7830 or CAES.UGA.Edu/ extension/cherokee
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