How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles on Flowers

Japanese beetles have distinct colorations.

Japanese beetles are large, loud insects that arrive in the garden in May and June and stay through the summer to wreak havoc on flower blooms, stems and leaves. The beetles target plants that smell and taste sweet and prey heavily on fruit and berry plants, roses, sassafras and rose-of-sharon plants. If you see Japanese beetles in your garden, take a couple of steps to eliminate them before they lay eggs and increase their population.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Pruning shears
• Pesticide
• Birdfeeders/houses

Instructions

1. Prune away foliage and leaves that have marks of beetle damage to help the plants conserve energy. This measure may also discourage beetles from coming back.

2. Walk through your garden early every morning if you see an infestation to pluck the beetles from the plants. Carry a bucket of water to drown the beetles as you find them.

3. Spray the garden in May, June and July with pesticide that targets Japanese beetles. This timing covers the beetles' feeding season and will both kill and prevent beetles in the garden. Follow manufacturer directions in regard to application, and always follow proper safety precautions with pesticides.

4. Put up bird feeders and houses to draw birds to your yard. Many birds eat Japanese beetles and their larvae and will cut down on both existing beetle populations and future generations.

Tips & Warnings

• Turn over the top six inches of soil in your garden in the fall and then again in spring to expose beetle eggs and larvae to drying air, sun and predation.

References

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Insect Pests and Plant Diseases: How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles
• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Japanese Beetles in the Urban Landscape
• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences: Japanese Beetle Control on Ornamental Plants