Turf and Plant Health Care Report

Turf And Plant Health Care Report 7/7/08

Japanese Beetles

• Adult is a ½ inch long metallic green and bronze beetle
• Feed on more than 300 plant varieties, however damage to preferred plants is more severe
• Certain varieties of little leaf lindens, maples, elms, and roses are common hosts in our area
• Feed on foliage leaving a lace like skeleton. Severely injured leaves may turn brown and drop off the plant
• Adult is feeding now through August and possibly into September
• Traps are useful for detecting emergence, however use for control is not recommended
• Control measures: select plants that are less preferred by Japanese beetles. Spray 1 to 3 times during July and August as necessary along with a merit soil injection in early spring

* Application to turf for control of larval (grub) stage will not control adult beetle populations.