Say sayonara to Japanese beetles: How Nebraskans can get rid of the pest

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Japanese beetles are at the height of their feeding season, which could cause some problems in your yard.

But it can be difficult to kill the invasive species without harming native insects, said Jennifer Morris, a Nebraska Forest Service forest health specialist.

“So in that case, you want to be very diligent and use the right products that don’t harm pollinators and don’t harm other beetles and insects,” she said.

The forest service said you can use the soap and water method to get rid of them.

You can place a bucket full of soapy water at the base of a plant and pat it down, causing the beetles to fall into the bucket.

But if there is a larger population, you might have to resort to insecticide.

Adult Japanese beetles feed on over 300 species of plants, according to the Nebraska Forest Service.

That includes corn and soybeans, which could be a problem for farmers.