How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles Using Natural Home Remedies

Japanese beetles have an eating habit that can be quite destructive for garden plants. Here are our top suggestions for getting rid of Japanese beetles using natural home remedies.

1. Pick Them Off by Hand

Adult Japanese beetles are big enough to be picked by hand. It will take some manual effort but the most effective way to get rid of Japanese beetles is to just hand-pick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water. The soapy water will get them to drown and die quickly.

2. Apply Neem Oil to the Foliage

Neem oil is a type of vegetable oil that can help control Japanese beetle infestations. This botanical insecticide contains a chemical that can kill of the Japanese beetle larvae before them became adults. we suggest diluting the neem oil with water then to apply the solution on the infested plant. Don’t forget to spray the underside of the leaves as well.

3. Apply Beneficial Nematodes to the Soil

Beneficial nematodes offer a biological control to common garden pests like Japanese beetles. They are microscopic roundworms that seek out ground-dwelling insects and kill them by ejecting bacteria into the insect’s body. The bacteria will typically kill the insect within 24 to 48 hours of being injected into the Japanese beetle’s body. Look for the Heterorhabditis bacteriophora variety when you are shopping around for the beneficial nematodes.

This biological control solution is something that works well against a large variety of pests. Beneficial nematodes, for example, could also be used to control a flea infestation in the yard.

4. Capture the Bugs with a Dust Buster

If there are too many Japanese beetles in the garden to be hand-picked then consider using a dust buster or a shop vac to speed up the process. Head out in the early morning when the bugs are at their most lethargic state. The dust buster should have enough suction power to pry the bugs off the plant foliage.