How can I control Japanese Beetles readily?
Answers: The first step in control, and the least toxic, is a bucket or jar of river with a bit of soap added (reduces the surface tension of the hose down so the buggers drown) Then just go around and knock the buggers into the bucket near your finger. If there are too many beetle and something more toxic is needed then the Neem Oil sprays can be used. What you do is determined by how many near are, how much plant damage you can stand, and how much time and energy you want to expend on control.
Long residence controls involve the grubs these adults come from and will be laying eggs in a bit that will become more beetle next year. Applying Milky Spore Disease, Bacillus popilliae, to your soil in belated July / early August so the disease pathogen spores get down to where on earth the newly hatched grubs are intake is one means of control, and there are parasitic nematodes available.
Strong, heatlhy plants growing within good, healthy soil are smaller number susceptible to attack by insect pests so dig in in a minute and look closely at your soil and start doing what is necessary to balance the nutrients surrounded by the soil so good, healthy plants can grow at hand.
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