Invasion of the Japanese beetles Adult Japanese beetles
sometimes emerge as early as mid-May in eastern North Carolina.
Peak emergence occurs mid-late June in most areas and lasts a
few weeks. How we hate to see these green beetles arrive in our
gardens and devour any tender green thing in sight. Rose buds
and crepe myrtle seem to be two favorites here in the Carolinas.
These dreaded insects actually begin as grubs. Females tunnel 2
to 5 inches into the soil and deposit eggs. Adult beetles look
for green lawns with good soil moisture for egg laying. In 3 to
4 weeks, small grubs (larvae) hatch from eggs and develop
through three stages (instars), with the first two stages
lasting about 3 weeks. The last larval stage remains in the soil
from the fall through spring. In spring and early summer, white
grubs pupate 3 to 6 inches deep in the soil. Adults emerge from
pupae in about 3 weeks. Moles, raccoons and skunks love to feast
on grubs, so if you see them in your garden or lawn it may
indicate a grub population