Japanese Beetle

Natural Habitat

Found in lawns, meadows, gardens, and agricultural fields; common across much of the Eastern and Midwestern United States.

Diet & Feeding

Adults eat the leaves, flowers, and fruit of over 300 plant species. Larvae (grubs) live underground and feed on the roots of grasses.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are active during the day, specifically in warm, sunny weather. They often feed in large groups, skeletonizing leaves by eating the tissue between the veins.

Risks & Benefits

Significant invasive pest that causes extensive damage to ornamental plants, crops, and turfgrass. They have no major benefits to the local ecosystem where they are invasive.

Identified on: 6/27/2026