Japanese beetles are invasive species and one of the major pests of more than 300 plant species in the US. If you ever see these bugs in your backyard, what are the steps that you should take in order to prevent them from invading your personal space? There are several birds, mammals and insect species that consume Japanese beetles. If you encourage the presence of these mammals and insects in your home, you can reduce the total number of Japanese beetles in your home.
Are you wondering what eats Japanese beetles so that you can get rid of them? Here are a few techniques in which you can prevent them from entering your backyard. Check out a few animals to welcome in order to bid goodbye to Japanese beetles.
Tachinid Flies
Tachinid flies are a parasitic fly that are found everywhere in the world. Tachinid flies parasitize several insets like caterpillars, grasshoppers, larvae, sawfly, earwigs, and also Japanese beetles. These flies use a special appendage to pierce the skin of a Japanese beetle. The tachinid fly species usually lay their eggs on the skeleton of the beetle and this larvae hatches, they move through the body of the beetle, killing the insect.
Birds
There are several birds that eat Japanese beetles but wouldn’t you like to know the names of those birds that are more likely to reduce the population of beetles? The best among them are starlings since they eat up both the adult bugs as well as their larvae. However, the other birds that may even eat up the larvae of the Japanese beetle are:
- Crows
- Robins
- Catbirds
- Grackles
- Bobwhites
- Sparrows
- Eastern kingbirds
- Blue jays
- Purple Martins
- Woodpeckers
How should you encourage Japanese beetle predators in your garden?
Now that you are aware of the predators, you must be wondering how to invite them in your garden. You have to firstly plant a variety of plants that include hedges, and trees that provide food and shelter for critters. You can even install bird boxes, tables, feeders, or baths, that can encourage avian predators in your backyard.
There are certain herbs and plants that can lure tachinid flies to your garden. Some of them are asters, dill, carrots, rudbeckias, other herbs, and flowering plants.
So, if your garden and backyard has been invaded by Japanese beetles, use the above-discussed strategies to get rid of them once and forever.
