Get rid of Japanese Beetles in your home

Japanese beetles are an outdoor pest tightly tethered to plants which they feed on and the grassy ground where they lay their eggs. If one of these beetles finds its way inside, you can rest assured that it did not mean to end up there and is not planning a long-term stay-cation inside. There are 3 key principles to keep in mind when considering how to keep these beetles outside of your home:

Since the Japanese Beetle needs to be in its natural habitat to survive and thrive, they will be happy to be sent back outside and will not be quick to return to the inhospitable interior of your home.

You may have a few plants inside of your home for color and decoration, but they are not likely to be on the list of favorite treats for a Japanese Beetle. Even if they do enjoy a bite or two of one of the leaves, they will be happier outside.

Simply capture the beetle by hand (they won’t harm people) or in a cup and carry it outside. You can either drop it on the ground or watch as it flies off to home base.

Japanese beetles are clumsy fliers and may accidentally land on your clothes, in your hair, or among grocery bags you are carrying inside. When you are in the midst of heavy Japanese beetle season, simply be mindful of their odd flight patterns and keep an eye out for a wandering flyer who may try and catch a ride. Simply flicking these potential hitchhikers off of your plants, clothes, or other will help keep them from finding their way inside.

Depending on breezes, and flight directions, a beetle flying from a tasty tree leaf down to the ground my find itself on a window that was propped open to let a nice summer breeze pass through the home. Since these beetles do not desire interior home environments, they will not make a concerted effort to find a way inside, but if screens are missing or torn, they may wander in out of clumsy curiosity. Keep those window screens in good repair and in place to ensure these beetles (and other pests) do not have an easy entry into your home.