Fact Sheet No. 5.601 Insect Ser ies|Home and Garden

Quick Facts• Japanesebeetleadultschewflowerblossomsandleavesofmanycommonlygrownplants.

• Japanesebeetlelarvaeareatypeofwhitegrubthatfeedsontherootsofgrasses.

•Adultsarebestcontrolledbyhandpickingorbyuseofcertaininsecticidesprays.

• Japanesebeetletrapscancapturemanyadultshaveneverbeenshowntoreducedamagetonearbyplants.

• Japanesebeetlelarvaecanbecontrolledwithcertaininsecticidesorbyinsectparasiticnematodes.

Forclosetoacentury,theJapanesebeetle(Popillia japonica)hasbeenoneofthemostseriouslydamaginginsectpestsofbothturfgrassandlandscapeplantsoverabroadareaoftheeasternUS.Recently,therehavebecomeafewpermanent,reproducingpopulationsofthisinsectinsomecommunitiesalongtheFrontRangeofColorado.AtsomeofthesesiteshighnumbersofJapanesebeetlesnowregularlyoccurandadultbeetlesarecausingsignificantdamagetoleavesandflowersofmanysusceptiblelandscapeplants.

Description of the Japanese BeetleTheadultJapanesebeetlehasan

ovalformisabout7/16-inchinlength.Itisgenerallymetallicgreenwithcoppery-brownwingcovers,whichdonotquitecoverthetipoftheabdomen.Alongthesidesarefivepatchesofwhitishhairs.Theantennaeareclubbedattheendandmayspreadtoafan-likeform..Japanesebeetlelarvaeareatype

ofwhitegrubthatfeedsontherootsofgrasses.Theyhaveacreamywhite

by W. Cranshaw*

Japanese Beetle

*W. Cranshaw Colorado State University Extension entomology specialist, and professor, bioagricultural sciences and pest management. 3/2018

bodywithadarkheadandthelegsonthethoraxarewelldeveloped.Normallythebodycurvesintoa“C-shape”.ThesefeaturesarealsotypicalofotherwhitegrubsfoundinassociationwithturfgrassinColorado,suchasmaskedchafersandMay/Junebeetles.(Extensionfactsheet5.516,Billbugs and White Grubsdiscusseswhitegrubsofturfgrassinmoredetail.)Japanesebeetlelarvaeareslightlysmallerthantheseotherspecieswhenfullgrownbuttheyarebestdistinguishedbycloselyexaminingthepatternofhairsonthehindendoftheabdomen(‘rastralpattern’),whichformsadistinctiveV-shape.

Japanese Beetle Damage Japanesebeetlecanbedamaging

toplantsinboththeadultandlarvalstages.Howeverthetypeofinjuriesproducedbyadultsandlarvaeareverydifferent.Injurybytheadultsismoreobvious

andisusuallytheprimaryconcerninColorado.Adultsfeedonleaves,budsandflowersofmanycommongardenandlandscapeplants(Table1).Onleavesfeedingisusuallyrestrictedtothesoftertissuesbetweenthelargerleafveins,whichresultsinacharacteristic

©ColoradoStateUniversityExtension.5/07.Revised3/18.

extension.colostate.edu

Figure 1. Rose blossoms are one of the most highly favored foods of Japanese beetles.

Figure 2. Japanese beetle damage to leaves of grape.

Figure 3. White grubs (larvae) of the Japanese beetle. Photograph courtesy of David Shetlar, the Ohio State University.

Figure 4. The rastral pattern that is distinctive for white grubs of the Japanese beetle. The rastral pattern is located on the underside of the tip of the abdomen. Photograph courtesy of David Shetlar, the Ohio State University.

Figure 5. Japanese beetles that feed on leaves produce a characteristic skeletonizing pattern.

Figure 6.. White grubs feed on the roots of grasses. Photograph courtesy of David Shetlar, the Ohio State University.

symptomsofinjurymaybepresentatthistime,withdamagedgrassappearingdroughtstressed.Larvaecontinuetofeeduntilsoil

temperaturesdroptoabout60oFatwhichtimethelarvaemovedeeperinthesoilwheretheyremainthroughwinter.Allactivityceaseswhensoiltemperaturesdropbelow50oF.Activityresumesassoilswarminspringand,afterafeedingperiodofabout4-6weeks,thelarvaeformanearthencellandpupate.Afewweekslaterthepupalstageiscompletedandthenewadultsemerge.

Control of Adult Japanese BeetlesJapanese Beetle Trapping.TrapsareavailablethatcancaptureJapanesebeetleadults.Thesetypicallyhaveavaneofyellowpanelsatthetopwithafunnelunderneathintowhichthebeetlesfallafterimpactingthepanels.Alureoffloral-basedcompoundsisusedthatishighlyattractivetoadults.

Table 1. Some plants that are most commonly damaged by Japanese beetle adults.

Virginiacreeper* GrapeRose** Linden*Silverlace(Polygonumaubertii)** Gaura** RoseofSharon** Hollyhock*Raspberry* Crabapples(some)Japanesemaple PekingcotoneasterBeans(edamame) Basil(green)

PlantsthatareinflowerduringpartofthetimewhenJapanesebeetleadultarepresentareindicatedbyasingleasterisk*.PlantsthatmaybebloomingtheentiretimewhenJapanesebeetlesarepresentontheplantareindicatedbytwoasterisks**.

feedingpatternknownanddescribedas“skeletonizing”.Moregeneralizedraggedfeedingoccursonsoftertissues,notablyflowerpetals;roseflowersareparticularlysusceptibletoJapanesebeetleinjury.Damageonindividualplantsmaybepatchy,concentratedwhereaggregationsoffeedingbeetlesoccur.Japanesebeetlelarvaefeedon

rootsofgrasses,inamannersimilartootherturfdamagingwhitegrubs.Theseinjuriesproducerootpruningthatlimittheplant’sabilitytoacquirewater.Damagedareasofturfgrassaremoresusceptibletowaterstressesandseverelyprunedrootscanleadtoplantdeathbydrought.Itislikelythattherewillbeincreasingturfgrassdamageinareaswherethisspeciesbecomes

established,addingtothedamagedonebynativewhitegrubspresentinColoradoturfgrass(e.g.,maskedchafers,May/Junebeetles).

Japanese Beetle Life HistoryJapanesebeetlehasaoneyear

lifecycle.AdultsmaybegintoemergefromthesoilinearlyJuneandareusuallymostabundantinearlysummer-fromlateJunethroughearlyAugust.However,someadultsmaybefoundintoSeptember.Asadults,Japanesebeetlescan

befoundfeedingandmatingonfoliageandflowersoftheirhostplants.Periodically,matedfemaleswillmoveinlateafternoontoareasofturfgrasstolayeggs.Theyseekareaswheresoilissuitablymoistandthendig2-3incheswheretheywilllayasmallclusterofeggsamongtheplantroots.Theysubsequentlyemergeandwillresumefeedingonhostplants,returningtoturfgrasslatertolaymoreeggs.Atotalof40-60eggsmaybelaidbyeachJapanesebeetlefemaleduringthecourseofher4-8weeklifespan.Uponhatchingfromtheeggs

thegrubs(larvae)seekoutnearbyplantrootsandfeed.DuringthetimeJapanesebeetlesareintheeggandearliestgrubstagetheyarequitesensitivetodryingandmaydieifsoilstemporarilydryduringthisperiod.Laterstagelarvaearelesssensitivetodrying.Japanesebeetlelarvaebecomenearlyfull-sizebyearlySeptemberandtheirrapiddevelopmentduringlatesummercancauseextensiverootpruning.Surface

Figure 7.. The life stages of the Japanese beetle. From left to right: egg, larva (stage I), larva (stage II), larva (stage III), pupa, adult. Photograph courtesy of David Shetlar, the Ohio State University.

LargenumbersofadultbeetlescanbecapturedinthesetrapsandtheyareusefulfordetectingthepresenceofJapanesebeetleforsurveypurposes.ThetrapsalsohavesomevalueincontrolwhereJapanesebeetlesarerestrictedtoaverylimitedlocation;massbeetletrappingwasacomponentoftheJapanesebeetleeradicationinPalisade,CO.Unfortunately,Japanesebeetle

trapsareineffectiveforcontrolwhereJapanesebeetleiswellestablishedoveralargearea,commonnowinmanyFrontRangelocations.Repeatedtrialshavedemonstratedthatuseofsuchtrapsdoesnotreducethenumberofbeetlesdamagingnearbyvegetation.Furthermore,theuseofJapanesebeetletrapsoftenincreasesdamagebyJapanesebeetlesbydrawingintothevicinitylargernumbersofbeetlesthanarecapturedinthetraps.BecauseofthisJapanesebeetletrapsarenotrecommendedforJapanesebeetlecontrol.Hand picking. Handpickingbeetlescansometimesbeeffectivelyemployedinsmallplantings.Thebeetlesareeasilypickedordislodged;shakinginfestedplantsoveracollectingcontainerinearlymorningwhentemperaturesarecool

canbeparticularlyproductive.Theregularremovalofbeetlespreventsthefeedingdamageproducedbythebeetles,whichcanreducetheproductionofchemicalsproducedbywoundedplantsthatareattractivetotheadultbeetles.Insecticides.ThereareseveralinsecticidesthatcanbeusedtohelpcontroldamagebyadultJapanesebeetles(Table2).Thesedifferentinsecticidesvaryconsiderablyinfeaturessuchashowlongtheycanpersistandcontrolbeetles,whatplantstheycanbeusedon,whethertheymovesystemicallyintheplant,andtheirhazardtodesirableinsects,notablypollinators.

IfJapanesebeetlesaredamagingfloweringplants,thislastfeature,thepotentialforhazardtopollinators,isveryimportantindeterminingwhatkindsofinsecticidescanbeused.)Insecticidesthatarehighlytoxicto

beesandcanpersistlongenoughtokillinsectsfordaysarehazardoustopollinatinginsectsthatvisittheflowers.Theseincludeproductswiththeactiveingredientscarbaryl,bifenthrin,beta-cyfluthrin,lambda-cyhalothrin,permethrin,andimidacloprid.Theseinsecticidesnormallyhavelabelinstructionstoprohibittheirusewhenthereareflowersinbloomthatareattractivetobees.

Figure 8. Typical trap used to capture adults of the Japanese beetle.

Figure 9. Hand picking can be a useful way to reduce damage by Japanese beetle.

Someinsecticides,whicharelesstoxictobeesorpersistforonlyashortperiod,canbeusedonplantsthatareinflowerifapplicationsaremadeduringtimesoftheday–earlymorning,dusk–whenbeesarenotactiveandvisitingplants.Examplesincludepyrethrins,azadirachtin,andacetamiprid.Acoupleofinsecticidesdonothave

restrictionsforuseonplantsinbloombecausetheyhaveverylittle,ifany,toxicitytobees.TheseincludeBacillusthuringiensisvar.galleriae(beetleJUS,beetleGONE!)andchlorantraniliprole(Acelepryn).Atpresent(2018)theformerareonlyavailablethroughmailorderandAceleprynisonlymarketedforcommercial/agriculturaluses.

Control of Japanese Beetle Grubs in LawnsJapanesebeetlegrubscandamage

turfgrassinthesamemannerasotherturfgrasswhitegrubs.(SeeExtensionFactSheet5.516,BillbugsandWhiteGrubs).Someculturalpracticescanlimitdamageandappliedchemicalorbiologicalcontrolsmayalsobeuseful.However,controlofJapanesebeetlelarvaeinayardwillhaveverylittle,ifany,effectonthenumberofJapanesebeetleadultsfeedingontrees,shrubsandgardenplants.Theinsectishighlymobilesothatproblemswithadultbeetlestypicallyinvolveinsectsthathavemovedaconsiderabledistance.Cultural Controls. Mowingcanaffectthesusceptibilityoflawnstogrubdamage.Thisisbecausethesizeoftherootmassincreasesalongwithmowingheight.Therefore,turfgrassthatismowedhigherandhasalargeramountofrootscanbettertoleraterootdamagethatdoesoccur.Conversely,lawnsmowedshorterwillhaveasmallermassofrootsandplantsbecomemoresusceptibletogrubdamage.

Watering can have several effects. Japanese beetle eggs and the tiny early stage larvae are very susceptible to drying. If the top couple of inches of soil in a lawn can be allowed to dry a bit during the time eggs are being laid and hatching - July and early August - then many may be killed. Since higher temperatures during this period tend to make plants be more susceptible to water

stress, growing lawns in a manner that promotes deep root growth can allow the lawn to be more tolerant of some soil drying. One way that this can be achieved is through deep, but less frequent, irrigation during spring.

If grubs have already caused some root injury, usually in late August and September, then watering may need to be increased a bit to keep soils moist enough to promote regrowth of roots.

Anything that can improve growing conditions-watering, fertilization, core aeration, mowing-can allow turfgrass plants to better tolerate root damage white grubs produce.Biological Controls.SoildrenchapplicationsofcertainkindsofinsectparasiticnematodescanprovidegoodcontrolofJapanesebeetlegrubsinlawns.(TheseorganismsarediscussedinmoredetailinExtensionFactSheet5.573,InsectParasiticNematodes).SpecificallyeffectivearecertainnematodesinthegenusHeterorhabditis(e.g.,Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, H. megadis)andseveralbiologicalcontrolsupplierswillprovidetheseorganisms.ApplicationsofHeterorhabditisnematodesaremadeasasoildrench,preferablyduringcool,overcastperiods,andmustbeimmediatelywateredintotheturfgrass.TheyshouldbeappliedwhenJapanesebeetlelarvaearepresentandactive.Anewproductbeingmarketed

forcontrolofwhitegrubsisastrain(galleriae)ofthebacteriumBacillus thuringiensisthatspecificallyaffectsadultsandlarvaeofscarabbeetlessuchasJapanesebeetle.ItispresentlybeingsoldasgrubGONE!andisbestappliedagainstsmalllarvaeinearly-midsummer.Anotherbiologicalcontrolthathas

receivedconsiderablepastattentionforJapanesebeetlecontrolismilkyspore(Paenibacillus popilliae),abacteriumthatproduces“milkydisease”inJapanesebeetlegrubs.(ThecurrentlyavailableformulationissoldunderthetradenameSt.Gabriels’OrganicsMilkySporePowder.)MilkysporeisappliedtoturfgrassareaswhereJapanesebeetlegrubsareactiveandmayinfectsomeofthegrubs,producingachronicinfectionthatreducessurvivalandreproduction.Applicationsofmilkysporepowder

willnotproduceimmediatereductionsinnumberofJapanesebeetles;ifanapplicationofmilkysporeisabletoresultinsuccessfullyinfectingsomegrubs,thenmilkysporewillcontinuetoreproduceandspreadonitsown.InareasoftheeasternUnitedStates,wheremilkysporehaslongbeenwidespread,itannuallyinfectsasmallnumberofgrubs,resultinginsomereductionoftheJapanesebeetlepopulations(lessthan5%).Insecticides for grub control.Severalinsecticides(Table3)arepresentlyavailablethatcanprovideexcellentcontrolofJapanesebeetlegrubsinlawns.Mostcommonlyavailableareinsecticidesthatareappliedpreventivelytokillyounggrubstages.Theseincludeimidacloprid(Merit,Zenith,severalretailproducts),chlorantraniprole(Acelepryn,Scott’sGrubEx),andchlothianidin(Arena),allofwhichcanprovidecontrolofJapanesebeetlelarvaeoveranextendedperiod(severalweeks-months).Applicationsofthesetypesofproductsarebestmadejustbeforeeggshatchorshortlyafterthistime(typicallymid-JunetoearlyJuly).Ratesofusearedependenton

timeofapplicationwithlowerratesbeingadequatewhenappliedagainstyoungerlarvaeinearlysummer.Higherratesareneededwhenlatestagelarvaearepresent.Controlwilldiminishifapplicationsaremadelaterintheseason,whengrubsarelarge,andtheseproductswilloftengivedisappointingresultswhenusedin“rescue”treatmentsforexistinginfestationsinadvancedstages.Theinsecticidetrichlorfon(Dylox,

BayerAdvanced24HourGrubKiller

Figure 10. Bees and other pollinating insects may be visiting flowers on which Japanese beetles are feeding. In these situations there must be special care when using insecticides to avoid killing pollinators.

Figure 11. A white grub killed by the nematode Heterorhabitis bacteriophora. Grubs that are infected by this nematode turn a reddish-brown color. Photograph courtesy of David Shetlar, the Ohio State University.

PlusGranules)hasamorelimiteduseforcontrolofJapanesebeetlegrubs.Thisinsecticideisabletomovequicklyintothesoilandcanprovidefairlyrapidkillcomparedtoothertreatments.However,itveryrapidlydegradesinsoil,particularlyhighpHsoils.Thisinsecticideissometimesusedfor“rescuetreatments”,appliedtogrubspresentlaterinsummerafteralleggshavehatched.Therecanbesomeriskto

pollinatorsifinsecticidesareappliedtolawnsthathavefloweringplantsattractivetobees.Iffloweringplantsarepresentinasitethatistoreceiveaninsecticideapplicationitshouldbemowedimmediatelybeforetreatmenttoremovetheattractiveblooms.

Tab

le 2

. Ins

ectic

ide

optio

ns fo

r co

ntro

l of a

dul

t Jap

anes

e b

eetle

s on

leav

es a

nd fl

ower

s

Com

mon

Nam

e (I

nsec

ticid

e C

lass

)Tr

ade

Nam

esP

ersi

sten

ce o

f con

trol

La

bel

ed U

ses

on F

ood

C

rop

sP

ollin

ator

Haz

ard

s, C

autio

ns

acet

amip

rid

(neo

nico

tinoi

d)

Tris

tar,

Ort

ho F

low

er, F

ruit,

and

Veg

etab

le In

sect

Kill

erM

oder

ate

per

sist

ence

; p

rovi

des

con

trol

of d

amag

e fo

r d

ays-

wee

k. M

oves

sys

tem

ical

ly

with

in p

lant

s.

Lab

el a

llow

s us

e on

som

e fr

uits

and

veg

etab

les.

Can

be

used

on

pla

nts

that

are

in b

loss

om

but

can

not b

e ap

plie

d a

t tim

es w

hen

bee

s ar

e vi

sitin

g (

i.e.,

dus

k, d

awn

app

licat

ions

al

low

ed).

azad

irac

htin

(u

nsp

ecifi

ed,

bot

anic

al o

rig

in)

Bio

Nee

m, A

zaso

l, A

zaG

uard

, Aza

Max

, oth

ers

Sho

rt p

ersi

sten

ce; p

rovi

des

co

ntro

l of d

amag

e fo

r a

coup

le

of d

ays.

Use

s al

low

ed fo

r es

sent

ially

al

l foo

d c

rop

s.H

azar

dou

s to

bee

s if

dir

ectly

sp

raye

d.

Can

b

e us

ed o

n p

lant

s th

at a

re in

blo

ssom

but

ca

nnot

be

app

lied

at t

imes

whe

n b

ees

are

visi

ting

(i.e

., d

usk,

daw

n ap

plic

atio

ns

allo

wed

).

Bac

illus

thur

ing

iens

is

var.

gal

leri

ae

(mic

rob

ial)

bee

tleG

ON

E!,

bee

tleJU

S!

Per

sist

ence

is 2

-3 d

ays.

Act

s as

sto

mac

h p

oiso

n th

at c

ause

s b

eetle

s to

sto

p fe

edin

g v

ery

shor

tly (

hour

s) a

fter

it is

eat

en.

Bee

tles

may

not

die

for

seve

ral

day

s.

Man

y fo

od c

rop

use

s ar

e al

low

ed.

Very

low

haz

ard

to b

ees.

Can

be

app

lied

to

pla

nts

that

are

in fl

ower

and

are

bei

ng v

isite

d

by

pol

linat

ors.

bife

nthr

in (

pyr

ethr

oid

)O

rtho

Max

Inse

ct K

iller

for

Law

ns a

nd G

ard

ens,

Ta

lsta

r, O

nyx

Per

sist

ence

mod

erat

e-lo

ng;

pro

vid

es c

ontr

ol o

f dam

age

for

abou

t a w

eek.

No

food

cro

p u

ses

are

allo

wed

.H

igh

haza

rd a

nd c

an k

ill b

ees

for

day

s af

ter

app

licat

ion.

Can

not b

e us

ed o

n p

lant

s b

ees

visi

t tha

t are

in b

loom

.

carb

aryl

(ca

rbam

ate)

Sev

in, C

arb

aryl

Per

sist

ence

mod

erat

e-lo

ng;

pro

vid

es c

ontr

ol o

f dam

age

for

abou

t a w

eek.

Lab

el a

llow

s m

any

food

cr

op u

ses.

Hig

h ha

zard

and

can

kill

bee

s fo

r d

ays

afte

r ap

plic

atio

n. C

anno

t be

used

on

pla

nts

bee

s vi

sit t

hat a

re in

blo

om.

chlo

rant

rani

lipro

le

(dia

mid

e)A

cele

pry

n S

CP

ersi

sten

ce m

oder

ate-

long

; p

rovi

des

con

trol

of d

amag

e fo

r ab

out a

wee

k.

No

food

cro

p u

ses

are

allo

wed

.Ve

ry lo

w h

azar

d to

bee

s. C

an b

e ap

plie

d to

p

lant

s th

at a

re in

flow

er a

nd a

re b

eing

vis

ited

b

y p

ollin

ator

s. N

ot m

arke

ted

for

reta

il.

bet

a-cy

fluth

rin

(pyr

ethr

oid

)Te

mp

o, B

ayer

Ad

vanc

ed R

ose

and

Flo

wer

Inse

ct K

iller

(w

ith im

idac

lop

rid

), B

ayer

Ad

vanc

ed V

eget

able

and

G

ard

en In

sect

Sp

ray

Mod

erat

e p

ersi

sten

ce;

pro

vid

es c

ontr

ol o

f dam

age

for

day

s-w

eek.

Som

e us

es a

llow

ed fo

r p

rod

ucts

that

sol

ely

cont

ain

bet

a-cy

fluth

rin;

form

ulat

ions

w

ith im

idac

lop

rid

do

not

allo

w fo

od c

rop

use

s.

Hig

h ha

zard

and

can

kill

bee

s fo

r a

day

or

two

af

ter

app

licat

ion.

Can

not b

e us

ed o

n p

lant

s b

ees

visi

t tha

t are

in b

loom

.

gam

ma-

cyha

loth

rin

(pyr

ethr

oid

)Tr

iazi

cid

e In

sect

Kill

er fo

r La

wns

and

Lan

dsc

apes

Per

sist

ence

mod

erat

e;

pro

vid

es c

ontr

ol o

f dam

age

for

day

s-w

eek.

Lab

eled

for

use

on m

any

veg

etab

le a

nd m

ost f

ruit

crop

s.

Hig

h ha

zard

and

can

kill

bee

s fo

r d

ays

afte

r ap

plic

atio

n. C

anno

t be

used

on

pla

nts

bee

s vi

sit t

hat a

re in

blo

om.

imid

aclo

pri

d

(neo

nico

tinoi

d)

Mer

it, M

alle

t, Ze

nith

, Bon

ide

Sys

tem

ic In

sect

Sp

ray,

B

ayer

Ad

vanc

ed 2

-in-1

Sys

tem

ic R

ose

& F

low

er

Car

e, B

ayer

Ad

vanc

ed T

ree

& S

hrub

Pro

tect

& F

eed

(w

ith c

hlot

hian

idan

), B

ayer

Ad

vanc

ed F

ruit,

Citr

us

and

Veg

etab

le In

sect

Kill

er H

i-Yie

ld S

yste

mic

Inse

ct

Gra

nule

s, O

rtho

Bug

B G

on Y

ear-

Long

Tre

e &

Shr

ub

Inse

ct C

ontr

ol, f

erti-

lom

e Tr

ee &

Shr

ub S

yste

mic

In

sect

Dre

nch,

oth

ers

Mod

erat

e p

ersi

sten

ce;

spra

ys c

an p

rovi

de

cont

rol o

f d

amag

e fo

r d

ays-

wee

k. M

oves

sy

stem

ical

ly w

ithin

pla

nts.

Vari

able

, dep

end

ing

on

form

ulat

ion.

Man

y p

rod

ucts

th

at h

ave

imid

aclo

pri

d a

s th

e so

le a

ctiv

e in

gre

die

nt

also

allo

w u

se o

n so

me

frui

ts a

nd v

eget

able

s.

Hig

h ha

zard

to b

ees.

Do

not a

pp

ly w

hen

bee

s ar

e fo

rag

ing

. Do

not a

pp

ly to

pla

nts

that

ar

e flo

wer

ing

. O

nly

app

ly a

fter

all

pet

als

have

fa

llen

off.

per

met

hrin

(p

yret

hroi

d)

Bon

ide

Eig

ht In

sect

Con

trol

Veg

etab

le, F

ruit

& F

low

er;

Bay

er A

dva

nced

Com

ple

te In

sect

Dus

t for

Gar

den

s;

Ace

Hou

se &

Gar

den

Bug

Kill

er2,

Ast

ro, P

erm

ethr

in,

othe

rs

Sho

rt to

mod

erat

e p

ersi

sten

ce.

Pro

vid

es c

ontr

ol o

f inj

ury

for

a fe

w d

ays.

Lab

el u

ses

incl

ude

mos

t ve

get

able

and

man

y fr

uit

crop

s.

Hig

h ha

zard

and

can

kill

bee

s fo

r a

day

or

two

af

ter

app

licat

ion.

Can

not b

e us

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Table 3. Insecticide and Biological Control Options for Control of Japanese Beetle Larvae (White Grubs) in Lawns

Common Name Trade Names (Commercial)

Trade Names (Retail) Insecticide Class Comments

imidacloprid Merit, Mallet, Zenith, others

Hi-Yield Grub Free Zone II, Bayer Advanced Complete Insect Killer for Soil & Turf (with beta-cyfluthrin), Bayer Advanced Season-Long Grub Control, Bonide Grub Beater

neonicotinoid Has moderate-long persistence. Applications are most effective when made in June through early August. Fairly fast (a couple of weeks) in providing control of grubs following application. Moves systemically in plants. Hazardous to bees if applied when flowering plants in lawns are present during application

chlothianidan Arena None neonicotinoid Has long persistence. Can provide control if applied from May into August. Fairly fast (a couple of weeks) in providing control of grubs following application. Moves systemically in plants. Hazardous to bees if applied when flowering plants in lawns are present during application.

chlorantraniliprole Acelepryn SC, Acelepryn G

GrubEx diamide Has very long persistence but moves relatively slowly into soil. Best applied in May/June; some control possible with applications made in April or early August. Fairly slow (weeks) in providing control after application. Has some ability to move systemically in plants. Very low hazard to bees. Very low hazard to humans, pets.

trichlorfon Dylox Bayer Advanced 24 Hour Grub Killer Plus Granules

organophosphate Very short persistence but is fast acting. Used to control existing problems with white grubs. Must be watered in immediately after application. Breakdown is very rapid (days), particularly in high pH soils. Fairly low hazard to bees; where flowering weeds are present mowing before application greatly reduces risk to pollinators.

Bacillus thuringiensis var. galleriae

None grubGONE! microbial (bacterium) Short residual activity. Best used after most eggs have hatched and grubs are still in young stages (mid-July through mid-August). Kills larvae through disruption of midgut. A very new product with little data yet available to make efficacy comparisons with other products.

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

HeteroMask, Grub-Away, BioStrike Hb, GrubStake Hb, others

HeteroMask, Grub-Away, BioStrike Hb, GrubStake Hb, others

insect parasitic nematode (entomopathogenic nematode)

hese are living organisms (minute nematodes/roundworms) that are applied to soil as a drench and watered immediately. Treatments should be made when grubs are present and soil temperatures are warm. Control is usually rapid (days after treatment) and infected grubs turn a reddish-brown color.

Milky spore (Paenibacillus popilliae)

None St. Gabriel Organics Milky Spore

microbial (bacterium) Not a product that can be expected to provide any noticeable control for years. Milky spore will usually spread on its own over time once applied to a turfgrass site. Experience in areas where this organism has long been present indicates it provides modest effects, killing a small percentage (<5%) of the white grubs. Infected grubs turn a milky color.

ColoradoStateUniversity,U.S.DepartmentofAgricultureandColoradocountiescooperating.CSUExtensionprogramsareavailabletoallwithoutdiscrimination.Noendorsementofproductsmentionedisintendednoriscriticismimpliedofproductsnotmentioned.