Japanese beetles are detrimental to plants during most of their life cycle. As hungry grubs, they eat through grass roots, destroying lawns and large swaths of agricultural fields. The adults are also responsible for destruction of most parts of plants and many fruits. Learn about these dangerous pests and how the Japanese beetle pest control experts at Pro-Staff Iowa can help you control them in your home, yard, and garden.
How They Got Here
Japanese beetles were introduced into the United States in 1916 in New Jersey and quickly gained notoriety as an invasive species. Their spread over the past 100 years includes most states east of the Mississippi and many states bordering the Mississippi on its west shore.
What They Eat
The Japanese beetle’s tremendous appetite for foliage is not limited to a handful of plants. Over 300 ornamental, fruit, and agricultural plants are included in their vast diet. Adults eat all “flesh” on a plant’s leaves, with only the supporting tubules remaining. With no method to photosynthesize, the plant may die. However, this holds true generally for young or unhealthy plants only. Unless the plant is overrun with Japanese beetles, it will probably survive.
Rose bushes can take the punishment of a Japanese beetle infestation, but it may severely damage the blooms. Fruit trees and other harvestable plants could note a drop in production when Japanese beetles are present.
How They Cause Damage
Japanese beetle grubs feast on grass roots, drilling holes in the tender roots to withdraw water and other nutrients. These holes make it extremely difficult for the roots to deliver water to the plant aboveground. The soft-bodied white grubs are a delicacy to moles, skunks, birds, deer, opossums, raccoons, and other animals. If you find your yard is riddled with holes from digging animals, contact Pro-Staff today to determine the cause of the digging.
What You Can Do
As a quick remedy while you are waiting for the day your Pro-Staff professional arrives, sprinkle the yard with cayenne pepper. This will not harm your turf or garden, and keeps sensitive-nosed wild animals from snuffing up grubs.
Japanese beetles, for the most part, are a nuisance pest. They do not harm humans and, as a rule of thumb, will not kill most plants. However, they leave unsightly patches of dead grass in your yard and damage ornamental and fruiting plants. Because of their extreme numbers during peak breeding seasons, it may seem like your yard and garden are overrun with them. Contact your Japanese beetle pest control team to stop the damage above and below ground by calling 515-279-7378 or contact us online.