Sasha CampbellThe ten-lined June beetle larvae can seriously damage the roots of various trees.
The good news is that there are some natural ways to get rid of them. You can use natural home remedies and repellents to deter these beetles and protect your plants.
This article will explore several natural methods to control ten-lined June beetles.
Identification
Ten-lined June beetles, or watermelon beetles, are less than an inch long and have white lines on their backs [1].
At night, you may spot them swarming around outdoor lights or hear them bumping into windows and doors, attracted to the light.
Their larvae are grubs that feed on plant roots. The adults may also chew on the leaves and flowers of various trees and shrubs.
How to Get Rid of Ten-Lined June Beetles Naturally
With some persistence, you can successfully control ten-lined June beetles organically.
1. Pick Them Off
The most natural way to get rid of these beetles is to pick them off your plants manually.
Check your yard regularly, especially at dusk or night when the beetles are most active, and pluck any you see off the plant. Dispose of the beetles in a bucket of soapy water to kill them.
Regularly removing adult beetles will lessen their harm to your plants and help reduce the beetle population in your yard over time.
Manually removing ten-lined June beetles requires diligence and patience. However, it can be an effective natural control method for small yards or gardens.
2. Make a Soda Bottle Trap
A soda bottle trap is an easy DIY trap to catch ten-lined June beetles.
You’ll need an empty 2-liter plastic soda bottle and some bait, such as fruit juice, sugar water, or molasses.
Next, cut off the top third of the bottle. Then, fill the bottom two-thirds with the bait liquid.
Put the top third of the bottle upside down onto the base to form a funnel.
Now, you’ll bury the trap around the base of the infested plants in your yard. However, ensure that only the funnel part is above the soil.
The beetles will be attracted to the bait and crawl through the wide opening, but they will find it difficult to navigate back out through the narrow opening.
Check the traps regularly and empty any caught beetles.
3. Till the soil
Tilling your soil will help eliminate the larvae as it will expose them to natural predators.
During development, the larvae live in the soil. Tilling will disrupt their habitat and make them more vulnerable to predators.
Be sure to till the soil before the larvae pupate into adults, typically in late spring.
4. Treat Your Lawn With Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
Apply Bt to your lawn, especially in areas where you’ve seen the adult beetles feeding.
The larvae will ingest the Bt as they feed on grass roots, and the bacteria will kill the grubs within a few days or a week.
You can find this organic insecticide at most garden centers or online.
5. Remove Infested Trees
If ten-lined June beetles have taken over your trees, you might need to remove the trees to get rid of the infestation.
However, removing infested trees should always be the last line of defense. First, try other methods, such as insecticide sprays, traps, or natural repellents.
6. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is very abrasive and dehydrating to certain insects. When these insects come into contact with it, it damages their exoskeletons and dehydrates them.
Dust the powder on plants or sprinkle it on the soil around their bases. Reapply after rain.
DE will not kill these pests instantly but will work overtime as the beetles come into repeated contact with the product. It works great at killing June bugs and other insects you don’t want around.
7. Neem Oil
Neem oil contains a compound that acts as an insect repellent. It can also kill these beetle grubs.
Mix 5 ml of neem oil with 3 ml of liquid soap and a liter of warm water to make a homemade spray for ten-lined June beetles.
Shake it up and spray the solution directly on the larvae (grubs) and the plants the adults feed on.
8. Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes prey on soil-dwelling insects like ten-lined June beetle grubs. You can purchase these nematodes and apply them to your lawn or garden.
The nematodes will hunt down the grubs and infect them with bacteria that will kill them within 48 hours.
9. Soil Solarization
This technique uses the sun’s energy to heat the soil, killing the grubs and other soil-dwelling pests.
You’d need to cover the soil with clear plastic for about four weeks. However, one downside is that solarization requires a long stretch of hot, sunny days to work properly.
10. BotaniGard 22WP
BotaniGard 22WP is a biological insecticide containing spores of Beauveria bassiana, a fungus that kills June beetles and other insect pests.
Mix BotaniGard 22WP according to the package instructions.
Takeaway
Listed above are some easy home remedies and natural solutions to get rid of ten-lined June beetles in your yard.
The best approach is to start early in the season before their numbers build up. Also, be consistent and vigilant with multiple methods.
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