Japanese beetles are pretty little things, with their shimmery green bodies and coppery wings.
If their beauty makes you reluctant to squish them, think about them in grub form — slimy, squishy, gross little icks that will devour the roots of your lawn, killing your pretty green grass. That's right — they’re lawn killers.
Go get ‘em, right?
How to get rid of Japanese beetles in Minnesota? Here’s a look.
Why Are Japanese Beetles So Bad?
While some insects live for just a few weeks, Japanese beetles live for months — eating, mating, and laying lots of eggs, over and over again.
Adult female Japanese beetles lay eggs 2 to 3 inches down into the soil beneath your lawn. When the eggs hatch into grubs, the hungry grubs devour your lawn’s tasty roots for nutrients before they emerge as adults.
Once the eggs start to hatch into grubs, continuous waves of ravenous white grubs begin feeding on the roots of your grass, killing whole sections of your lawn.
Japanese beetle control is all about killing them before it’s too late. More on this in a bit.
A Few Facts About Japanese Beetles in Minnesota
What do they look like? Adults have a distinct metallic green or bronze color on their backside. They’re about a half inch long with copper-colored front wings.
When is Japanese beetle season in Minnesota? The adult beetles appear in late June through September to feed, mate and lay eggs.
Where there’s one, there’s more. As Japanese beetles chow down they produce odors that attract other Japanese beetles to the area to feed and mate.
This invasive insect feeds on more than 300 plants, munching through plant leaves and flowers. They especially love roses. The insects feed on the areas between major veins, which give the leaves a lacy or skeleton-like appearance.
As you probably guessed, these insects are native to Japan but now are found in much of the United States.
It’s best to get rid of Japanese beetles as soon as you can. Once their numbers grow, it‘s harder to get rid of them.
Should You Kill Japanese Beetles with Traps?
Don’t bother. If you see Japanese beetles on your plants and shrubs, you might be tempted to put those Japanese beetle traps around your yard, with scent that attracts the pests.
But the traps will just attract more Japanese beetles to your yard, inviting the masses to a big backyard potluck where you’re the unlucky host.
The exception is if your yard is already full of the pesky pests. If that’s the case, you can place a trap in one back corner of your yard to lure them away from your plants and trees.
Japanese Beetle Control: Get ‘Em While They’re Grubs
As grubs go, the Japanese beetle is the main one we deal with around here.
The key is to kill Japanese beetles before they hatch and begin to cause damage to your lawn.
Prevention is your best bet for grubs in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
At RainMaster, providing lawn services in Minneapolis, MN and Eau Claire, WI, we apply Grub Guard protection in your first visit for the best protection.
Then, you’re all set. Your grub control lasts throughout the entire growing season, getting rid of Japanese beetles before they’re beetles.
Not all grub control lasts that long. Be sure what you're investing in lasts all season long, you don't want to be surprised when the second wave of hungry grubs comes around in the fall and your protection is MIA.
Grub Guard is like getting insurance. You don’t know for sure you’ll get grubs. But better to keep them away than risk your beautiful lawn.
Bonus: When we apply Grub Guard to your lawn, it won’t kill bees like the cheaper products most other companies use or what you find at the hardware store. Let’s all do what we can to help the little guys.
Grow a Healthy Lawn to Resist Grubs
Lawns with dense, healthy root systems can better resist root-munching grubs, like the ones that turn into Japanese beetles.
Mow at a high setting. Stay on top of fertilizing. Water less frequently, but for longer, to encourage roots to reach deep for water to build a dense turf resistant to grubs.
Need Japanese Beetle Control in Minneapolis or Eau Claire? Trust RainMaster
Japanese beetles are double deadly — the gooey grubs destroy your lawn and the adult beetles devour your plants and shrubs.
Don’t let them get away with it.
The best lawn care services focus on your lawn’s total health, from grub control to preventing weeds to soil health — care that starts deep below your lawn's surface for a healthy lawn.
Let’s create a custom nutrition plan for your lawn, so while grub control keeps the sinister slime-balls away, the roots will be nourished, the soil packed with nutrients, and your grass thick and healthy.
Are you ready to stop worrying about grubs destroying your lawn in Eau Claire, WI or the Minneapolis area? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy your lawn and stop worrying about it.
Image Source :Beetle on Roses, Beetle, Grub
