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How To Prevent Japanese Beetles From Damaging Your Pond

Sep 9th 2018

How To Prevent Japanese Beetles From Damaging Your Pond
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The Japanese beetle is a type of scarab which is native to the islands of Japan. There, its impact on the environment is minimal, since there are natural predators which control it, but in the United States and elsewhere, these beetles can become a real problem, as they destroy various types of plants. Some pond owners have encountered them, and below are some tips for keeping them under control.

How These Beetles Behave


Like most beetles, Japanese beetles transition through four stages, which are egg, then larva, then pupa and finally adult. They lay their eggs in clusters near the surface of soil after which they will hatch in about two weeks. At this point the larvae will feed on any plants or organic material they find in their vicinity. Once they grow into grubs their impact on pond plants will be far more significant.
The larvae can hibernate during winter months, forming miniature cells within soil. Once the temperature of the soil rises during spring, they will emerge. The Japanese beetle will spend most of its existence in the form of larva, with only thirty to forty five days being an adult. Adult beetles prefer feeding on leaves, and make use of pheromones to attract more beetles, which can quickly lead to an invasion in which pond plants can become overwhelmed, with their leaves and petals becoming completely consumed.

How To Get Rid of Them


The most common technique used to eradicate Japanese beetles is the beetle trap. This device uses a pair of walls which are crossed and which have a container beneath them, and use a special pheromone to attract the bugs. Once the beetles become trapped they will quickly succumb. However, this elimination method has been criticized, because although the trap attracts beetles many will not become trapped, and will instead land on plants nearby, which causes additional damage.
Therefore, if you’re going to use a beetle trap, you need to be sure it is far away from your pond or water garden.  It has also been said that certain types of plants which are aromatic, like garlic or catnip, will discourage the beetles from coming. Another method which has proven highly effective is specialized bacteria. Developed by the USDA, it takes advantage of the vulnerabilities that these beetles have during their larval stage. When added to the pond or water garden in the form of a powder, it will destroy any Japanese beetles that try to establish themselves, without harming other plants and animals.
Finally, Japanese beetles can also be removed by hand. They are easy to spot and lack the ability to quickly evade, so all you have to do is pull them off the plant and crush them. If a plant is covered by multiple beetles, simply shaking it a bit will make them fall off. Some who own koi ponds have reported that the koi will consume these beetles, which makes sense since koi eat just about everything and are originally from the same part of the world.

RETAIL LOCATIONS

Colts Neck Retail Store

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315 NJ-34 Suite 101
Colts Neck, NJ 07722

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We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
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sunday 10:00-4:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-5:00
wednesday 10:00-5:00
thursday 10:00-5:00
friday 10:00-5:00
saturday 10:00-5:00

Green Brook Retail Store

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205D Route 22
Green Brook, NJ 08812

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We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more! FFP Aquariums & Aquascaping is also located within our Green Brook location!
Hours
sunday 10:00-5:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-6:00
wednesday 10:00-6:00
thursday 10:00-6:00
friday 10:00-6:00
saturday 10:00-6:00

Fairfield Retail Store

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437 US-46 Suite 1
Fairfield, NJ 07004

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We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, in display tanks, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
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sunday 10:00-4:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-5:00
wednesday 10:00-5:00
thursday 10:00-5:00
friday 10:00-5:00
saturday 10:00-6:00

New Hope Retail Store

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5921 Lower York Rd
New Hope, PA 18938

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We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, in display tanks, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
Hours
sunday 10:00-5:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-6:00
wednesday 10:00-6:00
thursday 10:00-6:00
friday 10:00-6:00
saturday 10:00-6:00

FFP Farm/Warehouse

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610 Little York Mt Pleasant Rd
Milford, NJ 08848

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Our Farm/Warehouse location is unique and unlike a retail store. Visitors are welcome BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Please call ahead to make an appointment.
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sunday Closed
monday 9:00-5:00
tuesday 9:00-5:00
wednesday 9:00-5:00
thursday 9:00-5:00
friday 9:00-5:00
saturday Closed

Saddle River Retail Store

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74 E. Allendale Rd.
Saddle River, NJ 07458

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We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more! This location, is previously known as the historic and iconic Waterford Gardens.
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sunday Closed
monday 9:00-5:00
tuesday 9:00-5:00
wednesday 9:00-5:00
thursday 9:00-5:00
friday 9:00-5:00
saturday 9:00-5:00

Chattanooga, TN Retail Store

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2314 Bliss Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37406

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We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, in display tanks, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
Hours
sunday Closed
monday 10:00-4:00
tuesday 10:00-4:00
wednesday 10:00-4:00
thursday 10:00-4:00
friday 10:00-4:00
saturday 10:00-4:00
Colts Neck Retail Store
Green Brook Retail Store
Fairfield Retail Store
New Hope Retail Store
FFP Farm/Warehouse
Saddle River Retail Store
Chattanooga, TN Retail Store

RETAIL LOCATIONS

Colts Neck Retail Store

Directions
315 NJ-34 Suite 101
Colts Neck, NJ 07722

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
Hours
sunday 10:00-4:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-5:00
wednesday 10:00-5:00
thursday 10:00-5:00
friday 10:00-5:00
saturday 10:00-5:00

Green Brook Retail Store

Directions
205D Route 22
Green Brook, NJ 08812

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more! FFP Aquariums & Aquascaping is also located within our Green Brook location!
Hours
sunday 10:00-5:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-6:00
wednesday 10:00-6:00
thursday 10:00-6:00
friday 10:00-6:00
saturday 10:00-6:00

Fairfield Retail Store

Directions
437 US-46 Suite 1
Fairfield, NJ 07004

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, in display tanks, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
Hours
sunday 10:00-4:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-5:00
wednesday 10:00-5:00
thursday 10:00-5:00
friday 10:00-5:00
saturday 10:00-6:00

New Hope Retail Store

Directions
5921 Lower York Rd
New Hope, PA 18938

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, in display tanks, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
Hours
sunday 10:00-5:00
monday Closed
tuesday 10:00-6:00
wednesday 10:00-6:00
thursday 10:00-6:00
friday 10:00-6:00
saturday 10:00-6:00

FFP Farm/Warehouse

Directions
610 Little York Mt Pleasant Rd
Milford, NJ 08848

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

Our Farm/Warehouse location is unique and unlike a retail store. Visitors are welcome BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! Please call ahead to make an appointment.
Hours
sunday Closed
monday 9:00-5:00
tuesday 9:00-5:00
wednesday 9:00-5:00
thursday 9:00-5:00
friday 9:00-5:00
saturday Closed

Saddle River Retail Store

Directions
74 E. Allendale Rd.
Saddle River, NJ 07458

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more! This location, is previously known as the historic and iconic Waterford Gardens.
Hours
sunday Closed
monday 9:00-5:00
tuesday 9:00-5:00
wednesday 9:00-5:00
thursday 9:00-5:00
friday 9:00-5:00
saturday 9:00-5:00

Chattanooga, TN Retail Store

Directions
2314 Bliss Ave
Chattanooga, TN 37406

Contact

Service options
In-store shopping
Curbside pickup
Delivery

We carry a wide variety of products including Koi fish, in display tanks, Evolution Aqua, Bermuda, Atlantic, Oase and more!
Hours
sunday Closed
monday 10:00-4:00
tuesday 10:00-4:00
wednesday 10:00-4:00
thursday 10:00-4:00
friday 10:00-4:00
saturday 10:00-4:00
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