Species guide

Japanese beetle

Harmless

Popillia japonica

Japanese beetle

What does Japanese beetle look like?

A ~1 cm beetle with a metallic green head and thorax, copper-brown wing covers, and small tufts of white hair poking out along each side of the abdomen.

Is Japanese beetle dangerous?

Harmless to people. It's a serious garden pest, though — adults skeletonize leaves and grubs damage lawn roots.

What should I do about Japanese beetle?

Hand-pick into soapy water in the early morning. Avoid pheromone traps — they tend to attract more beetles than they catch.

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