The Master Gardener Articles

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Japanese Beetle

The Japanese beetle is a double threat to our landscape.

In the spring and fall, it lives as a grub (larva stage) in the soil feeding on grass roots from early August till frost and in the spring from mid-April to early June. The grub forms a pupa, which develops into a beetle, which emerges in June feeding on low growing plants and later flying to tree leaves. The adults live for 30 to 45 days and are most abundant in July. Just before the adult beetle dies, the females lay their eggs in lawns or other grassy areas under the soil surface.  Grubs that hatch from these eggs are grayish white with a brown head and a characteristic C shape.

In order to protect your lawn from heavy grub feeding, apply chemicals designed to control grubs (products containing imidacloprid, isofenphos or azophos in mid to late July). 

If you have a heavy Japanese beetle attack from the adult beetle in the summer apply products contaning esfenvalerate or befenthrin as directed. 

For more information on Japanese beetle, go to the web site http://ohioline.osu.edu and search for Japanese Beetle Fact Sheet #HGY 2504-91 or call the Union County Extension Office at 937.644.8117 or toll free for Union County Residents 800.589.8584.