Integrated pest management resources for Michigan Michigan State University home IPM Michigan home
IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials

Search
Resources
bulletChristmas trees
bulletField crops
bulletFruit
bulletHome and yard
bulletNursery and landscape
bulletTurfgrass
bulletVegetable

Related pest diagnostic/management programs
Diagnostic Services ● Soil/Plant Nutrient Lab ● Enviro-weather ●Regional IPM Center ● Pesticide safety ● Organic: New Ag Network ● Invasive species ●Sustainable ag & food systems

Organizations
MSU ANR departments ● MSU Extension ● Site index ●Contacts/permissions
Japanese beetle
IPM scouting in herbaceous perennials > Japanese beetle
Look for adults in late June through September. Timing may vary, depending on geographic location. Adults tend to congregate on plants, feeding between the leaf veins and causing leaves to appear lace-like or skeletonized. Japanese beetle adults feed on a wide variety of herbaceous perennials.

Management: Japanese beetles are attracted to plants that have been previously damaged, so it is important to control beetles early. The use of pheromone and bait traps is not recommended because this will attract more beetles from surrounding areas and result in greater damage to plants. Small numbers of Japanese beetle adults can be hand picked. Contact insecticides may be applied as soon as adults are apparent. Note that many contact insecticides are harmful to bees, beneficial insects and mites.
Japanese beetle adult Japanese beetle damage
Japanese beetle adults are 9 to 12 mm long, metallic green with coppery wing covers. White tufts of hair at the rear end of the abdomen are a distinguishing characteristic for identification. Damage from beetle feeding.
This information was developed from A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Herbaceous Perennials by Jan Byrne and Raymond A. Cloyd. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2981).
The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
Email the web developer.
Updated 8/07/07