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Japanese beetles #879787

Asked August 01, 2024, 4:25 PM EDT

How to deal with Japanese beetle infestation

Emmet County Michigan

Expert Response

Our apologies for the delay in responding.  One of our insect experts will respond soon.  Just wanted you to know we received your submission and will be in touch.

 Best wishes,
Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/ Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health   Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. Replied August 07, 2024, 9:51 AM EDT
If you are dealing with an infestation of Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica) grubs in your lawn, then most of the information  is in this article from MSU Extension:https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/how_to_choose_and_when_to_apply_grub_control_products_for_your_lawn

If you are worried about the adult beetles feeding on your plants, then the best thing to do is to protect the plants directly. You can protect them with temporary physical barriers (e.g. netting or screens), hand picking, or insecticides. 
Insecticides are not the preferred option because it risks hurting bees and other beneficial insects, especially if there are flowers on the plants. If you choose to use an insecticide, be sure to follow the label directions in order to ensure the product's effectiveness, your safety, and the safety of others. Avoid spraying nearby flowering plants and remove any flowers from plants within the treated area. 
A product with the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. galleriae Strain SDS-502, is an insecticide that will kill beetles that consume it, but is quite safe for most of our pollinating insects.
An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 07, 2024, 11:30 AM EDT

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