Knowledgebase
Milky spore and beetles #913848
Asked August 13, 2025, 9:58 AM EDT
Eaton County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Margaret,
Technically, no, milky spore will do nothing for beetles in the lawn. The beetles are there to lay eggs for the next generation of beetles. Milky spore is a bacterium that can kill only the grubs of Japanese Beetle. MSU does not recommend the use of milky spore: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/a_question_about_milky_spore_applications_and_grubs
If you have damage to your lawn due to feeding grubs, a pesticide may limit next years generation of beetles. If however, you have beetles feeding on plants, then grub controlling pesticides is not what you need. Also, the use of a pesticide to kill grubs in your lawn may limit the beetles that will hatch from your lawn, but if you have an amazingly tasty plant that the beetles are feeding on, they will come form lawns a long distance away to consume your plants.
Hope this helps.
