Trying to figure out how to control Japanese beetles organically? Here’s how we do it… And if you have ducks or chickens, these methods can also provide you with some free poultry food.
We love producing our own homegrown organic produce and free-range duck eggs. Our family spends a lot of time out in our half acre edible organic landscape as does our flock of Welsh Harlequin ducks.
That means we’re extra careful about what we use to control pests, preferring to utilize biological controls and integrated pest management rather than pesticides.
Japanese beetles: a challenging pest insect for organic control methods
Perhaps the worst summer pest insect we experience is Japanese beetles.
In case you’re wondering, yes, domesticated ducks and chickens LOVE Japanese beetles. However, they’re not adept at catching the beetles on their own, so human assistance is required. (More on that below.)
“Is our Japanese beetle entree ready yet?” Yes, domesticated ducks do enjoy eating Japanese beetles. However, as large, flightless birds, they can’t catch the beetles on their own.
Even if you have beetle-eating ducks or chickens roaming about, they won’t be able to control Japanese beetle populations.
9 Comments
Collin Stewart
November 29, 2022 at 4:56 amWhat adorable ducks! I’ll try your trick on the pesky beetles, hoping my birds will enjoy them and my mom’s fruit trees will be relieved.
Steve Thompson
November 28, 2022 at 2:15 amWe have chickens and ducks, and we let them eat Japanese beetles.
Michael Horton
November 23, 2022 at 9:20 amYay! I will inform my mom about this; she’s been problematic about these Japanese beetles; I think we need a duck or a chicken. Thanks for sharing this!
cloudponderer
February 23, 2018 at 12:42 pmChickens love Japanese beetles too.
Unfortunately, my grapes are on the outside of our fence. If I were to get any kind of animal, they’d just wander off.
Thanks for sharing your story. I need to point out one inaccuracy. The following is incorrect:
“Be sure to regularly empty your beetle traps, since the smell of dead
beetles will detract living beetles from coming to the trap.”
The exact opposite is the case. That’s why people collect them in soapy water and dispose of them in the toilet, a sealed bag or other methods, away from the infested area.
The dead beetles actually draw then in. In fact, some people make their own traps, simply using crushed beetles as the attractant. The pheromones held in glands within their bodies are released in large amounts when they are crushed, which attracts them to the traps and away from your plants.
That’s also why many people advise against even using the traps. It simply attracts more beetles from outside areas, potentially exacerbating your problem.
Aaron von Frank
February 28, 2018 at 7:50 pmGood to know, thanks for sharing that info!
Mrs. Marianne
March 12, 2017 at 9:45 pmCute ducks! I will try your trick with the pesky beetles,hopefully my birds will enjoy them and my fruit trees will get a break.
Aaron
March 13, 2017 at 10:05 amGood luck, Mrs. Marianne! If your ducks are anything like ours, they’ll gobble up the beetles with gusto.
Aaron von Frank
March 13, 2017 at 12:50 pmGood luck, Mrs. Marianne! If your ducks are anything like ours, they’ll gobble up the beetles with gusto. Just be mindful not to put your traps too close to your fruit trees.
Charlie@Seattle Trekker
July 11, 2015 at 6:13 pmYour post is such fun and so full of useful information that I can apply to the veggies I am trying to grow…Noting wrong with bonding with the creatures that share our earth; it is like any family where you realize you have lost control from almost the very start.