Have you tried the Fruit Cocktail way?
Most Japanese beetle traps are ineffective, usually only serving to attract additional beetles to your lawn & garden. However, a can of fruit cocktail can help quickly remove active beetles from your yard. First, ferment the cocktail by leaving it in the sun for a few days—this will make it more attractive to beetles. Next, place the can on top of a brick or bricks stacked inside a pail filled with water (it’s advisable to keep this trap far removed from the plants you’re trying to protect). The cocktail will attract the beetles, the water will drown them. It’s that simple.
Have you tried the sosp & water trick?
Mix 4 tablespoons of dish soap with a quart of water inside a spray bottle. This simple solution makes for a great, all natural Japanese Beetle pesticide. Spray on any beetles you see on or around your lawn & garden.
What about roundworms?
One of the greener options for Japanese beetle control involves introducing parasitic roundworms into the soil. Also known as beneficial nematodes, these organisms can devastate soil-dwelling pests like Japanese beetle larvae. Once they’ve located and entered a host, these nearly microscopic worms release a bacteria that’s deadly to the young beetles. After killing their host they move on to another beetle, reproducing in the process.
For best results, introduce nematodes into your soil in late August or early September to attack the next cycle of beetles for the following year (while this is the optimal approach, nematodes can be added to the soil at any time, so long as the soil is sufficiently watered).
Note: the nematode species Heterorhabditis is said to be most effective against Japanese beetles. The nematode pest control method targets larvae, not adult beetles. Beneficial nematodes can typically be found at your local home & garden store.
Or limit the foods they like most to keep them away!
PLANTS MOST OFTEN DAMAGED BY JAPANESE BEETLES
These plants are favored by adult Japanese beetles and are more susceptible to destruction. Avoid planting them in areas that get regular infestations.
- American linden
- Apple
- Apricot, cherry, peach, and plum
- Beans
- Birch
- Crab apple
- Crape myrtle
- Grape vines
- Hibiscus
- Japanese maple
- Norway maple
- Pin oak
- Raspberry
- Roses
PLANTS LEAST OFTEN DAMAGED BY JAPANESE BEETLES
These plants are least favored by adult Japanese beetles and are less susceptible to destruction. (However, there is no guarantee that these plants won’t be attacked if there are limited food sources in the area!)
- Ash
- Boxwood
- Burning bush
- Clematis
- Dogwood
- Fir
- Forsythia
- Hemlock
- Holly
- Lilac
- Magnolia
- Northern red oak
- Pine
- Redbud
- Red maple
- Spruce
- Yew