Two straight months of extremely high temperatures has taken its toll on many lawns, and now we are seeing the return of an unwelcomed pest to make matters worse.

The extreme temperatures and long spans of drought conditions have begun to take a toll on many homeowners’ lawns. Large brown patches from the intense sun are made worse by a very unwelcome pest. The Japanese Beetle is making its presence known on turf areas, shrubs, and trees alike. In the larval stage, Japanese Beetle will feed on grass, shrub, and tree roots. The larva, or grubs, will spend about 9 to 10 months in the soil feeding on roots. Adults are seen in late June through August. The adults feed on over 300 species of plants. Controls can be applied to both the turf area as well as the above ground plants. A combination of control strategies is recommended when populations reach high levels. Currently the Colorado Department of Agriculture is collecting information on the population size, and range in Colorado. Please contact your Arborist if you think you have Japanese Beetles visiting your property.