The Japanese Beetle - Pest -

 

The beetle species Popillia japonica is commonly known as the Japanese beetle. It is about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) long and 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide, with iridescent copper-colored or bronze-colored, outer wings -elytra- and metallic-green, body -thorax- and head. The beetle has small tufts of white hair along the sides and back of its body. Grubs (larvae) are c-shaped, white in colour and about 2.5 cm long when fully grown.

 

It is not very destructive in Japan, where it is controlled by natural enemies, but in America it is a serious pest of about 200 species of plants, including rose bushes, grapes, hops, canna, crape myrtles, and other plants.

 

These insects damage plants by skeletonizing the foliage, that is, consuming only the leaf material between the veins. They are very destructive in lawns, in the garden they also love corn. The grubs eat the roots.

 

Natural repellents include catnip, chives, garlic, and tansy, as well as the remains of dead beetles. Additionally, when present in small numbers, the beetles may be manually controlled using a soap-water spray mixture.

 

Tansy is also used as a companion plant, especially with cucurbits like cucumbers and squash, or with roses or various berries. It is thought to repel ants, cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, and some kinds of flying insects, among others.

 

(Not all metallic green or copper beetles are Japanese Beetles. To be sure of what you’re dealing with, you can look closely at the underside of the beetle and you’ll also see 5 small, white tufts under the wing covers and an additional tuft at the end of the abdomen.)