Are Japanese beetles eating up your yard? This bug scientist has some advice

First found in the United States in 1916, after accidentally being introduced in New Jersey, the invasive Japanese beetle has been marching westward ever since.

Today, they’re considered to be the most devastating plant pest in the eastern half of the country, but you likely know them as those metallic green beetles that pass through a yard and leave ugly, skeletonized trees and bushes in their wake.

Rose bushes are one of their favorite targets, but they also enjoy several tree varieties, including birches, elms, cherry, black walnut and some maple trees.

Jonathan Larson, an entomologist at the University of Kentucky, knows them well. He also appreciates how deeply gardeners despise them. Japanese beetles can devastate garden crops and strip a tree of its leaves in a matter of days. While your roses may survive an attack, they likely won’t be pleasant to look at.

“They just feel like a Biblical plague almost,” Larson told the Herald-Leader in an interview. “It’s always at the top of the most-hated bug list.”

Larson often deals with Japanese beetles in his job, and he’s trained under a global expert on them, so we thought we might draw on his experience to help you ward off any invasion you’re facing. Here’s a look at the most effective control methods, including whether you should or just crush the bothersome beetles.

Hand pick Japanese beetles to stop them from spreading further

When people have a pest problem, particularly when it involves bugs, often their first thought is to reach for some kind of spray. True, you can easily find effective beetle control products at any hardware store or garden center these days.

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