Skip to content
HarvestBench
Japanese beetle on a flower

Photo: Kmtnewsman0 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wikimedia Commons source

Garden pest

Japanese beetle

Metallic green beetles that skeletonize leaves in midsummer.

Crops often hit: Bean, Basil, Grape, Raspberry, Rose (nearby)

How to identify

  • Metallic green body with copper wing covers
  • White tufts along the abdomen edge
  • Clusters feeding on the upper leaf surface

Damage: Lace-like skeletonized leaves; reduced vigor.

Control methods

  1. Hand-pick into soapy water in early morning when beetles are sluggish.
  2. Avoid Japanese beetle traps near the vegetable garden — they attract more beetles.
  3. Row cover on high-value beans during peak flight if needed.

What products to use

We list product types and what to check on the label — not brand rankings, prices, or “we tested” claims. Always follow the label for your crop, and prefer the least disruptive option that works.

  • Neem or pyrethrin (labeled)

    When: Heavy feeding on edibles you cannot cover

    Look for: Food-crop label; treat evenings; repeat only as directed