The only reliable way to get rid of Japanese beetles is the method you don't like - pick them off manually. Pesticides will kill pollinators as well as the beetles. Here are some suggestions: https://northerngardener.org/japanese-beetle-solutions/

I don't generally like pesticides but I'm not using soapy water on my plants either.


Thanks for the link.

It is non toxic but it is a long term solution. It prevents the development of new Beatles. You still need to manually remove the adults by hand.

I believe since we are in America that they are called Japanese-American Beatles.

Did it work?

It is not specific to Japanese Beatles. It works well in my garden. It was recommended to me by my nephew who is an arborist.

It looks like George.

If I have to remove the pests from my plants I'll use tweezers.

although many claim the traps draw in more beetles...
I used to pick hundreds by hand, put them in a dish of water and let the chickens have at the chickens would follow me every morning, they loved it!!

the traps do catch a lot, just don't put them directly at the plants infected

https://www.amazon.com/RESCUE-Japanese-Beetle-Trap-Reusable/dp/B01JH1COHY/ref=asc_df_B01JH1COHY?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80676876079886&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=90568&hvtargid=pla-4584276354364551&psc=1&hvocijid=2383617466191955114-B01JH1COHY-&hvexpln=0

They are lured into the bag, and it catches literally hundreds of them.

And you don't have to put the bags right next to your geraniums. There's a bait that lures them into the bag. Sorry for the huge link.

https://www.amazon.com/Spectracide-Bag-Bug-Japanese-Beetle/dp/B01J4989TQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2W6WUD8ZJKB10&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MQO1TOLI93TTYOYpjDs6qT_CjLeV_hpLQknFmYs4ToLlGl7qiri8DTS9xbyAvo0n_JDYWrpNkTjwsUzsHjkn64vG8H5INKJEeMBcxNgggvtm2pHr7aSm88n5uo0AzeBZGwaUbZMkVNFO8kAmViEsMHBJhY-mWSGER9mTtX75iVD4AiGXK1RjkEU_sXdtS6OTTfyLTfbZbj9MztVFu1-Tq4N7I1gBRwJ5OF-7-UVWobHe6WiIMJQNWY3JB8Yj5_JPh8k8sWFeCP4qbHkVaKjk4UQ6r5beeS1erPVbJraLYoM.F2wmOwksUjp7-_2dE_al4ansjkyuQ2L4k6U9kUTKBME&dib_tag=se&keywords=spectracide+japanese+beetle+trap&qid=1783461929&sprefix=spectracide+japanese+beetle+trap%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-5

I think between you and markie (both of you suggested the traps baits) I think I'll go with these.

It's okay for the long link. I only recently learned how to shorten Amazon links. Always learning, that doesn't mean I'll always remember though.

I had a large garden and flower beds last year and the beetles showed up in droves. We put out four traps and the garden was left unscathed. I used four traps for about a 1/4 acre area.

Follow recommendations above. I'm just here to confirm they work. I was skeptical at first but was convinced shortly after putting them up.

They are around for a couple - few weeks, it seems then they suddenly go away.
Some birds like to eat them.

This is the first time that I've had this issue so this is most helpful.

I'm sure you can find them wherever garden supplies are sold.

I'll be getting some for sure!