By Josie February 8th, 2023
Beetle traps is one way of doing this, but how, and how well do they work?
Are you a gardening enthusiast looking for a unique way to keep pesky Japanese beetles away from your garden?
The Japanese beetle originated in Japan but can now be found across much of North America.
Despite their beautiful coloring, the Japanese beetle is a significant pest.
These pests measure about 5/16 an inch long and have small white tufts of hair along their sides and bellies.
They have a a distinct metallic green color and copper-brown wing covers.
They feed on plant leaves, often leaving skeletonized foliage or holes in the leaves.
Check for clusters of Beetles clinging to the underside of leaves. This is a sign that there are more infesting your plants.
They feed on various plants and can quickly defoliate host plants if not appropriately managed.
Adult beetles eat foliage directly, while larval grubs feed on the roots of many essential types of grass, such as turf grass.
This often results in a reduced yield or crop failure.
- Use of insecticides (but which will damage your plant babies as well)
- Physical removal (effective, but tedious)
- Planting specific plants that are unattractive to the beetles
..and then there's Japanese Beetle traps!
They utilize attractive smells to lure in both sexes of the beetle and provide a physical barrier they cannot escape.
Japanese beetle traps are effective insect control methods that target larvae, pupae, and adult beetles.
It lures the beetle with a unique scent from flowers, foliage, synthetic lures, and food bait (often made from corn and wheat).
The trap usually consists of a small bag or container securely attached to a stake in the ground.
Once the beetle enters the bag, it can’t escape and eventually dies.
#1 Bait Traps
#2 Sticky Traps
#3 Pheromone Attractants
#2 Beetle traps are non-toxic, odorless, and requires no additional chemical treatments to be effective.
#1 It is an effective and environmentally friendly way to reduce damage caused by destructive insects.
#3 The Japanese beetle trap also efficiently reduces egg-laying sites that can lead to future pest infestations.
All in all, Japanese is a great way of looking out for your garden while also being kind to the planet.