Prevent Garden Culprits and Pest Home Invaders Now and Throughout the Fall

It’s the end of summer, but that doesn’t mean summer activities have stopped. Many of us are still tending to our gardens and staying outdoors to enjoy the last bit of sunshine before the leaves begin to fall.

As people tend to their gardens, they are finding green, metallic insects in their plants. In fact, many report their rose bushes and other plants are filled with these shiny, metallic creatures, and they’re eating the petals and leaves! Although some people think these are Asian lady beetles or “lady bugs, they are actually Japanese garden beetles. But now is the time of year when Asian lady beetles or “lady bugs” are aggravating homeowners too.

If you’ve stumbled on either of these pests, you’re not alone. Check out these tips below to learn how to prevent both of these pests from eating your garden and invading your house this autumn.

Japanese Garden Beetles:

• This metallic pest can be found on outside plants, flowers and vegetable gardens.
• Japanese garden beetles’ eggs hatch in the lawn and the grubs (babies) live in the soil to consume grass and plant roots. Once this pest reaches adulthood, they live on and thrive off the foliage of garden and ornamental plants.
• This pest generally stays outside. On occasion, Japanese beetles may venture indoors, but it is usually just an accident as there is limited food.
• To prevent Japanese beetles from damaging your gardens, you can apply “grubicide” to your lawn to eliminate the grubs. It is important to note that this pest has two hatching cycles, one in late spring and the other in fall, so multiple treatments may be needed. Generally, a pest control company does not treat for lawn and ornamental pests, so it is best to contact a lawn or landscape company.
• “Grubicide” is not a complete elimination method as Japanese beetles are very persistent. Some other options for pest control include hand picking or physically removing the beetles from foliage, traps that should be placed away from the plants the pest is infesting, and avoiding plants that attract this pest. Examples of plants that attract Japanese garden beetles include: fruit, shade trees, roses, shrubs, asparagus, corn and several other vegetables. Japanese beetles generally do not like cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, eggplant, potatoes and geraniums, which can be deadly to this pest.

Asian Lady Beetles:

• Asian lady beetles are often called “lady bugs” and range from yellow/orange to red with black spots. This pest can be found in large numbers, usually near sunny areas. When disturbed, this pest is known to bite and can secrete a strong-smelling yellow liquid that stains certain surfaces.
• As the weather begins to cool down, this pest begins to venture indoors. The best way to prevent this pest from entering homes is to seal all cracks and crevices with sealant. If they are already inside, vacuuming this pest is the best removal method.
• A pest control company can help by applying a treatment to the exterior of buildings in early fall. This will prevent Asian lady beetles from entering your home in the fall.
• Asian lady beetles are known as a hibernating pest because they invade homes in fall and stay until spring. Wil-Kil receives many customer calls in spring when Asian lady beetles begin to leave homes for the warmer weather, however, this insect is best controlled in fall.

Now that you know what that garden culprit is and how to prevent lady bugs indoors, make sure to follow these tips so you can enjoy the last weeks of summer, pest-free!

About Shane McCoy:

Shane McCoy is the Quality and Technical Training Director for Wil-Kil Pest Control, a regional pest management company providing quality pest management for residential and commercial properties throughout the Upper Midwest. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with over 20 years of experience in pest management, Shane’s blog provides expert tips and tricks, timely information and solutions for coexisting with the insect life and critters around us. To learn more about Wil-Kil Pest Control, please visit www.wil-kil.com. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@WilKilPest).