The Truth About Stopping What’s Now Destroying Minnesota Yards, Gardens

Have you noticed your lawn looking uncharacteristically brown and patchy? Is your garden filled with skeletonized leaves that look like something is chewing on them and destroying them? There's a good chance that an invasive species that is spreading through Minnesota is to blame.

Japanese beetles were reportedly introduced to the United States through international trade. They are now primarily found in the eastern and central United States; however, isolated populations have been extending westward.

The invasive species were first documented in Minnesota in 1968, though they became more noticeable in the early 2000s when their population numbers increased significantly

That is a problem for Minnesota homeowners because Japanese beetles, which are a destructive pest that feeds on over 300 species of plants, cause damage both as adults and larvae.

Adult beetles skeletonize leaves by eating the tissue between veins, and they also feed on fruits and flowers. Larvae, known as white grubs, feed on grass roots, causing turf to die and making it susceptible to drought. However, there are things you can do to control the damage and keep these pests under control.

Below are several options that have proven to be effective in controlling these pests and getting yards and gardens healthy once again.

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