Pest

Japanese beetles

Metallic green and copper beetles that skeletonize leaves and flowers in summer; their grubs eat lawn roots.

What you'll see

• Shiny metallic green beetles about 1/2 inch (13 mm) long with coppery wing covers, often in groups.
• Leaves eaten between the veins so only a lacy skeleton is left, and chewed flowers.
• Roses, grapes, raspberries, beans and many other plants are favorites, from about mid-June to August.

Why it happens

Adults come out of the soil in early summer, feed for about two months and lay eggs in lawns. The white grubs feed on grass roots until they turn into beetles the next summer.

How to fix it

1. Knock or pick the beetles into a bucket of soapy water every day or two.
2. Don't use beetle traps near your garden; they attract more beetles than they catch.
3. Established plants tolerate a lot of feeding; for heavy attacks on valued plants, use a product labeled for Japanese beetles and keep kids and pets away.

Keep it from coming back

• Where beetles are heavy, grow fewer of their favorite plants, such as roses.
• Check plants daily from mid-June to catch the first arrivals.
• Keep the lawn healthy, and check it for grubs in late summer.

Sources

• University of Maryland Extension: Japanese beetles on vegetables
• University of Maryland Extension: Japanese beetles on trees, shrubs, and flowers

General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.