Pest Exterminator

Go Natural

Organic Japanese beetle control is the best option for anyone battling an infestation in his or her prize vegetable garden. Even if your thumb isn’t quite so green, your pest control methods can be. Organic Japanese beetle control simply uses some of nature’s own repellents and predators to put an end to the Japanese beetle life cycle. It may be more time-consuming than spraying chemicals over your yard, but the difference that pesticide-free fruits and vegetables make cannot be compared.

Pest Control from the Kitchen

Castor Oil - Mix about two tablespoons of Castor oil with a squirt of dish soap into a spray bottle and then add water. Shake up the mixture and use directly on plants where Japanese beetles appear. The mixture will kill existing pests and ward off other beetles, making it a great organic Japanese beetle control repellent.

Plain Soap and Water – Not the most glamorous method, but going out in the morning to pick the bugs off the plants, and dropping them into a bowl of soapy water, will do the trick. Naturally, this wouldn’t work with a heavy infestation, but it is a perfect organic pest control solution for the backyard gardener.

Beer – Setting small liquid traps of beer has been shown to draw out grubs, the larvae stage of Japanese beetles, killing them by drowning. Place tiny containers or caps full of beer around the plant(s) being damaged by grubs for some potentially entertaining organic pest control.

Fruit & Water - Another natural pest control trap, this time set for the adult beetle. Bowls of sugar water are mixed with smashed fruit and sprinkled with yeast to entice the beetles into the bowl. Once in the water, they will get stuck and die. Again, this is best for small and specific infestation areas.

Seeds - Attract the right birds and you will have both a natural and organic pest control solution. Seek out a mixture, or make your own, that entices some of the following birds: blue jays, cardinals, robins and starlings. Help the birds feed off grubs too by aerating the lawn and bringing the larvae to the surface.

Don’t Try this at Home

Bug Juice – We are not talking about the colorful sugar-laden punch your mom would serve on a hot day. This recipe calls for very different ingredients. First you pick off about a cup full of beetles and unceremoniously whip-em up in your blender. Add water to liquefy them and continue blending until the mixture is smooth enough to be used in a spray bottle. Spray the bug juice wherever you want to remove the beetles. The idea is that the beetles will detect their dead friends and never wish to return to your yard.

Green Market

Organic Japanese beetle control products offer up a variety of intriguing natural pest control options. From repellents, to simple plant barriers, to something that almost sounds like science fiction, there are plenty of products for the homeowner to choose from.

Beetle nets – Not the most exciting green pest control product, beetle nets simply cover your prized shrubs and delicate garden during the peak of Japanese beetle infestation. The nets are not completely insect-proof, but they do provide a useful barrier; when combined with other organic Japanese beetle control techniques, your favorite foliage could remain safe this year.

Plant Barriers - Save your plants by doing more planting. Japanese beetles are not fond of a surprisingly long list of flowers, trees and bushes. Having some of these beautiful plants in your yard would be the ultimate in green pest control:

• Begonias
• Bleeding heart
• Carnations
• Columbine daisies
• Flowering dogwood
• Forsythia
• Junipers
• Lilacs
• Lilies
• Nasturtium

Beneficial Bacteria – Now on to the Sci-Fi portion of organic pest control: the milky spore bacteria. Milky spore is easily spread on your lawn and garden where it will be ingested by the Japanese beetle grubs. Slowly, the bacteria works to kill the grubs while also multiplying and putting more of the beneficial bacteria into your turf. This process can take up to three years for full extermination to ensue, but positive signs can be noticed sooner.

Beneficial nematodes - It may surprise you to learn that nematodes are effective in exterminating a variety of garden pests. Beneficial nematodes, specifically the heterohabditis bacteriophora, have been a proven organic Japanese beetle control solution. Combine this solution with one that attacks the adult beetle stage and you have a complete and effective green pest control plan.