JAPANESE BEETLES were introduced to the states in the early 1900's in New Jersey. Since that time they have spread west an have finally reached Minnesota. These beetles were mostly known as a crop pest. They destroy fields of soybeans and corn. Here you will see a picture of some Japanese beetles doing some defoliation on a soy bean plant.
It is said that this beetle feasts on over 300 different varieties of plant but they seem to take a liking to a popular species of trees locally. Within the last year this beetle has done some major damage to linden trees in our area. History has shown that this beetle will keep on doing more damage.
Once this pest gets in your yard it hunkers down and eats every leaf off your trees. Starting with linden and then moving on to pretty much any other tree. So far it has been spotted in birch, elm, maple, ash, and of course linden. This insect spreads very quickly and reproduces in mass. Its larvae is very small and feasts on the roots of your garden plants. That makes this pest a double edge sword.
Many methods of treatment are available but some seem to be more effective than others. The most popular may be spraying but this may be an impossible task on larger trees. The bugs will eat any leaves you miss. Traps are also a very popular method of treatment. Major drawback is that you will attract every Japanese beetle within a five mile radius. Disposal of these bugs also becomes a problem. One of the best methods is through systemic treatments or commonly known as trunk injections. Chemical moves throughout the tree and into the leaves. The bug goes to eat the leaves and it dies
These bugs affect trees in June and are here through August. If you have a Linden tree and you live in Minnesota it is very important that you do something about this insect or you will no longer have a tree!!
Above: Japanese beetles defiling a soy bean plant. Below: Popular bag method of catching these little bugs.
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