Aargh! Just when your flowers are beautiful and blooming, you notice shiny metallic-green beetles eating everything in sight. Japanese beetles can lay waste to all your gorgeous blooms almost overnight. But the good news is, they wont kill the plant, and you can fight back. Well cover the lifecycle of the Japanese beetle and share several approaches to add to your arsenal. With these proven tips, youll be ready to win the war on Japanese beetles.
Beetles are a common garden pest that can quickly become a nuisance for balsam plant growers. From Japanese beetles to blister beetles, these insects can devour leaves, flowers, and other tender plant parts. If left uncontrolled, beetles can stunt plant growth, spread disease, and eventually kill balsam plants Getting rid of beetles as soon as you spot them is crucial for protecting your balsam plants In this article, we’ll explore the best organic and chemical control methods for banishing beetles from your garden.
Identifying Beetles on Balsam Plants
The first step is learning to recognize the beetles infesting your balsam plants. Common beetle species include:
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Japanese beetles Metallic green heads with coppery wings about 1/2 inch long. These are a very destructive pest.
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Cucumber beetles: Greenish-yellow with spots or stripes. Adults are 1/4 inch long. They transmit bacterial wilt disease.
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Flea beetles: Tiny, shiny black beetles that jump when disturbed. They chew small holes in foliage.
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Blister beetles: Skinny, elongated beetles that can grow over 1 inch long. Color varies but often black with red stripes.
Check under leaves and along stems to spot adult beetles. Look for skeletonized foliage and holes in leaves, which indicate feeding damage. Shake plants over a sheet of white paper to dislodge larvae for identification.
Organic Ways to Control Balsam Plant Beetles
Hand Removal
One of the easiest organic controls is to simply pick beetles off plants by hand. Drop them into soapy water to finish them off. Hand removal works best for light infestations and is a good first line of defense.
Neem Oil
Extracted from the neem tree, neem oil is a natural insecticide. It repels and kills beetles while being safe for people, pets, and beneficial insects. Apply it according to package directions as soon as beetles appear. Reapply after rain.
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkle this powder made from crushed fossils around your balsam plants. The sharp edges scratch the insect’s exoskeleton, causing dehydration and death within a few days. Reapply after rain or watering.
Row Covers
Cover plants with fabric row covers to create a physical barrier against beetles. Use breathable fabric and drape it over hoops to allow airflow. Apply at first sighting of beetles in spring.
Natural Predators
Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps which prey on beetles. You can also buy them from garden centers or online to release into your garden.
Chemical Options for Beetle Control
When organic options fail to eliminate an aggressive beetle infestation, chemical control may be necessary. Always follow label directions exactly. Options include:
Insecticidal Soap
Made from natural fatty acids, insecticidal soap disrupts the insect’s cell membranes on contact, causing death. It’s safe for most plants when used as directed. Spray beetles and larvae directly to control localized infestations.
Neonicotinoids
Systemic insecticides like imidacloprid are absorbed by plants, making their tissues and sap toxic to beetles. They can be applied as soil drenches or sprays. Neonicotinoids persist for several weeks, providing longer control. However, they can harm bees and other beneficial insects.
Carbaryl
Carbaryl insecticides knock down a variety of chewing insect pests including beetles, but may also kill beneficial insects. Non-systemic chemicals like carbaryl must contact pests to be effective.
Pyrethrin
Natural pyrethrin insecticides derived from chrysanthemums provide quick knockdown of beetles. However, they break down rapidly in sunlight so repeated applications are needed. Use pyrethrin sprays as part of an IPM program, not a stand-alone treatment.
Whichever control methods you choose, vigilant monitoring and early intervention are vital. Check plants frequently, especially the undersides of leaves for early signs of beetles. At the first sighting, take prompt and thorough action to mitigate damage and get beetles under control before they multiply. Combining multiple tactics will provide the best protection for your balsam plants.
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Japanese Beetle Life Cycle
Understanding the lifecycle of Japanese beetles is key to controlling their population and will help you create a coordinated defense.
Adult
You will first notice Japanese beetles when they start feasting on tender leaves and petals. If you see skeletonized leaves and roses decimated in a day, you might have Japanese beetles. They are easy to identify with their metallic-looking copper and green bodies.
Japanese Beetles will fly around sniffing out food sources and pheromones. They will go after plants that are rotting and have overripe fruit. You can make your yard less attractive by keeping your garden clean. This is the time when you can pick beetles off by hand, cover your plants, and use topical sprays.
Eggs
While the Japanese beetles are feasting and mating, the females are laying eggs. She lays a few eggs at a time in the ground and repeats this process to lay between 40 to 60 eggs. This feasting, mating, and laying eggs cycle usually starts around the end of June and through July.
Larvae
In August and into September, the larvae hatch and feast on roots, usually in lawns and other grassy areas. During this cycle, you can treat the lawn for grubs to kill the larvae. If you have grubs eating your grass roots, you will notice dead spots.
Pupae
As temperatures cool, the larvae crawl deeper into the soil and are harder to eliminate. But then they will come back to the surface in the spring to feed on roots again before pupating. They will then emerge as adult beetles and start the cycle of feasting and mating all over again.
How to Outsmart and Protect Your Garden From Japanese Beetles
Now that you know the Japanese beetle life cycle, you’re ready to tackle how to get rid of these pests.
At the feasting and mating stage, your best line of defense is picking off Japanese beetles as fast as possible. The beetles are laying eggs daily and can lay up to 60 eggs each. So, this is the time to disrupt the cycle. Japanese beetles don’t sting or bite, but you still may want to wear gloves. Go out early in the morning before they fly off. They seem to be slow and sleepy at this time of day.
Take a bucket of water and add a few drops of dish soap. Then, shake the leaves or grab beetles and drop them into the bucket of soapy water. Leave the beetles in the bucket for the rest of the day so that they are dead before you dump them out.
If you keep an eye on it and pick off Japanese beetles every day, you can limit their damage and prevent them from breeding and laying eggs. This will reduce the number you have coming back next year.
This can be a fun task for kids or those who are squeamish about touching bugs. You can use a shop or small cordless vacuum to collect all the Japanese beetles you can see. Youll want to dispose of the beetles once you’ve trapped them in the vacuum.
Beetle traps have their pros and cons. The traps work by attracting the beetles, and then they can’t get out. However, the traps attract more beetles into your yard, and they can be coming from all your neighbors. Japanese beetles can smell up to a mile away! For this reason, traps aren’t recommended. But if you do use them, place them at least 50 feet away from your garden and any plants you want to protect.
Neem oil can be sprayed on plants to kill Japanese beetles. However, it can also be toxic to fish and bees. So apply it early in the morning to lessen the chance of bees eating it. Its chemical compound breaks down fairly quickly during the day.
You can use fabric plant covers to keep Japanese beetles off your flowers and other vulnerable plants. These will keep the beetles from chewing on your beautiful blossoms. You may want to remove the covers during the day to allow pollinators to reach the flowers.
How to get rid of Japanese Beetles Organically // Northlawn Flower Farms
FAQ
What can I spray on plants to keep Japanese beetles away?
What is the recipe to get rid of beetles?
How do you get rid of tree beetles?
How do you get rid of beetles on plants?
Grab a bucket and mix a quart of water with a teaspoon of dish soap. Once you mix the water with dish soap, the least “touchy” solution is to pour the soapy water into a spray bottle and spray the beetles on your affected plants. This can cause the beetles to drop from the plant and possibly become food for predators such as birds. 2.
How do you get rid of Balsam weed?
The main method of non-chemical control, and usually the most appropriate, is pulling or cutting the plants before they flower and set seed. Conservation authorities regularly organise ‘balsam bashing’ work parties to clear the weed from marshland and riverbanks. Hoe off seedlings. Dig or fork out plants.
How do you get rid of Japanese beetles?
1. Make a homemade Japanese beetle spray. A simple solution of water and dish soap can suffocate Japanese beetles. Grab a bucket and mix a quart of water with a teaspoon of dish soap. Once you mix the water with dish soap, the least “touchy” solution is to pour the soapy water into a spray bottle and spray the beetles on your affected plants.
How do you control Himalayan balsam?
Controlling Himalayan balsam is a two-part endeavor – removing existing plants and preventing the spread of seed. Like other balsam flowers, the plant reproduces by seed, and it will put out up to 800 of them every year. These seeds can travel a short distance through the air or miles and miles if they get caught up in a river or stream.