Japanese Beatles

[Niagara]

I get hanging baskets of Ivy Geraniums every year.

I don't really have a green thumb but Ivy Geranium flourish for me.

This year I have Japanese Beatles all over the petals and leaves. Some gardeners say you can drown them with soapy water but I don't want to touch the bugs even with gardening gloves on.

Can anyone recommend a brand of pesticides to deter these icky creatures that is effective? They're relentless.


Japanese Beatle


Leaves are being destroyed


The black spot under the bloom to the left is another icky Beatle

[Ocelot II]

1. Are their names John, Paul, George and Ringo?

The only reliable way to get rid of Japanese beetles is the method you don't like - pick them off manually. Pesticides will kill pollinators as well as the beetles. Here are some suggestions: https://northerngardener.org/japanese-beetle-solutions/

[Niagara]

2. Yes, that's their names

I don't generally like pesticides but I'm not using soapy water on my plants either.


Thanks for the link.

[regnaD kciN]

11. I thought Yoko was the Japanese Beatle...

[Bluestocking]

3. Try neem oil

It is non toxic but it is a long term solution. It prevents the development of new Beatles. You still need to manually remove the adults by hand.

I believe since we are in America that they are called Japanese-American Beatles.

[Niagara]

6. Have you applied neem oil on any of your plants?

Did it work?

[Bluestocking]

10. I spray it in my garden as a preventative treatment

It is not specific to Japanese Beatles. It works well in my garden. It was recommended to me by my nephew who is an arborist.

[Shellback Squid]

12. beetles

[Niagara]

14. But if you take a closer look at this one

It looks like George.

[Niagara]

13. I might try both the neem oil with the traps

If I have to remove the pests from my plants I'll use tweezers.

[Keepthesoulalive]

18. Be careful neem oil can burn plants

[markie]

4. traps work

although many claim the traps draw in more beetles...
I used to pick hundreds by hand, put them in a dish of water and let the chickens have at the chickens would follow me every morning, they loved it!!

the traps do catch a lot, just don't put them directly at the plants infected

https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Japanese-Beetle-Trap-Reusable/dp/B01JH1COHY/ref=asc_df_B01JH1COHY?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676876079886&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=90568&hvtargid=pla-4584276354364551&psc=1&hvocijid=2383617466191955114-B01JH1COHY-&hvexpln=0

[Niagara]

7. Thank you, markie

[LuckyCharms]

5. I've used these, Niagara...

They are lured into the bag, and it catches literally hundreds of them.

And you don't have to put the bags right next to your geraniums. There's a bait that lures them into the bag. Sorry for the huge link.

https://www.amazon.com/Spectracide-Bag-Bug-Japanese-Beetle/dp/B01J4989TQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2W6WUD8ZJKB10&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MQO1TOLI93TTYOYpjDs6qT_CjLeV_hpLQknFmYs4ToLlGl7qiri8DTS9xbyAvo0n_JDYWrpNkTjwsUzsHjkn64vG8H5INKJEeMBcxNgggvtm2pHr7aSm88n5uo0AzeBZGwaUbZMkVNFO8kAmViEsMHBJhY-mWSGER9mTtX75iVD4AiGXK1RjkEU_sXdtS6OTTfyLTfbZbj9MztVFu1-Tq4N7I1gBRwJ5OF-7-UVWobHe6WiIMJQNWY3JB8Yj5_JPh8k8sWFeCP4qbHkVaKjk4UQ6r5beeS1erPVbJraLYoM.F2wmOwksUjp7-_2dE_al4ansjkyuQ2L4k6U9kUTKBME&dib_tag=se&keywords=spectracide+japanese+beetle+trap&qid=1783461929&sprefix=spectracide+japanese+beetle+trap%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-5

[Niagara]

8. Thank you, Lucky

I think between you and markie (both of you suggested the traps baits) I think I'll go with these.

It's okay for the long link. I only recently learned how to shorten Amazon links. Always learning, that doesn't mean I'll always remember though.

[2naSalit]

9. They work really well...

I had a large garden and flower beds last year and the beetles showed up in droves. We put out four traps and the garden was left unscathed. I used four traps for about a 1/4 acre area.

Follow recommendations above. I'm just here to confirm they work. I was skeptical at first but was convinced shortly after putting them up.

They are around for a couple - few weeks, it seems then they suddenly go away.
Some birds like to eat them.

[Niagara]

15. That's fantastic to know that they work, 2naSalit

This is the first time that I've had this issue so this is most helpful.

[2naSalit]

16. We found them at the hardware store...

I'm sure you can find them wherever garden supplies are sold.

[Niagara]

17. It looks like the traps are sold at various retailers

I'll be getting some for sure!