Looking for the best sprays for Japanese Beetles?
Perfect, you're in the right place! In this guide you’ll learn:
- Why sprays work to eliminate Japanese Beetles problems
- How sprays work for Japanese Beetle issues
- How to use them and apply insecticide around your home to get the best results
And much more!
Below is a quick list of all my top picks. Keep scrolling to learn more about my best buying tips and tricks.
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Our Top Pick  | Our Top Pick | Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer
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| View on Amazon |
 | BioAdvanced Dual Action Insect Killer
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| View on Amazon | |
 | JT Eaton 209-W1G Kills
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| View on Amazon | |
 | HARRIS 5 Minute Bed Bug Killer
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Bonide Ready to Use Neem Oil
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| View on Amazon | |
 | BioAdvanced 3-in-1 Pesticide
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| View on Amazon | |
 | Alpine Pressurized Insecticide
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| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
(updated as of 07/04/2020)
- Can be used inside and outside
- Comfort wand is easy to use
- The active ingredients are Bifenthrin and Zeta-Cypermethrin
Ortho is a trusted brand name for home defense against insects of all kinds, including Japanese Beetles. This one can be used with the included, easy to use comfort wand, or you can dispense with the wand and use it for drench treatments to soak the soil.
The active ingredients, Bifenthrin and Zeta-Cypermethrin, are professional-strength pesticides with long-term residuals against many insects as well as good weather resistance once they are dry.
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7 Best Sprays for Japanese Beetles
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What Are Sprays For Japanese Beetles?
Sprays are pesticides that are mainly used as surface sprays to kill adult Japanese Beetles. They have limited application for killing eggs or larvae, although some can be used that way.
This video shows their life cycle to help you understand them.
Japanese Beetles do a great deal of their damage during the underground phase of their life cycle but if you kill the adults that emerge in the summer with sufficient surface sprays, you can safely eradicate them, although it may take a couple of seasons to do so.
The main advantage of sprays is their relatively low cost and ease of use. They are premixed and ready to use as soon as they arrive on your doorstep.
If you don’t mind taking a little time and saving a lot of money, sprays are the way to go.
What Are The Different Types of Sprays For Japanese Beetles?
There are two main types of sprays, identified primarily by their mode of delivery or application.
- Premixed and ready to use
These sprays usually come in bottles or containers with a spray handle attached. Some are trigger handles and some have battery-operated wands that spray the pesticide solution.
Either way, they are ready to use without any further effort.
A third option is an aerosol that is premixed and ready to spray.
- Concentrated with garden hose attachments
These sprays are actually concentrated pesticides that have to be diluted with water. They require you to attach a garden hose to the container.
As you press the trigger or squeeze the handle, the water pressure mixes the concentrate as it sprays.
Read Also: What are the best traps for Japanese beetles?
How Do Sprays For Japanese Beetles Work?
Sprays attack only the adult Japanese Beetles. Unless you open the container and pour it on the ground in a drench treatment, they will not affect the eggs or larvae.
The active ingredients have many different modes of action.
Some attack the central nervous system, others affect the muscles in the insects, and still others go after the respiratory system. All of them have to come into contact with the target pest or be ingested by them.
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Are Sprays For Japanese Beetles Dangerous To Pets or Children?
Yes and no. Modern pesticides are nowhere near as dangerous as the old-school pesticides that existed prior to the 1960s and 70s.
However, even those weren’t nearly as dangerous as you’ve been led to believe.
That being said, children are more sensitive to chemicals in the environment than adults. Their bodies are still immature and developing.
This is especially true for infants who crawl around on the floor and ground then stick their hands in their mouths.
For most pesticides, we recommend that you keep your children (and pets) out of the treated area until it has completely dried. After that, it should be safe for them to enter.
Read Also: Our COMPLETE guide on how to get rid of Japanese beetles
Our Reviews Of The Best Sprays For Japanese Beetles
- Can be used inside and outside
- Comfort wand is easy to use
- It can be used for drench treatments too
Ortho is a top-rated brand name known worldwide for its line of home defense products against pests. This is a broad-spectrum insecticide with Bifenthrin and Zeta-Cypermethrin as the active ingredients. This is a professional-strength pesticide.
The one-gallon size will give you coverage in the yard and the easy to use comfort wand won’t strain your wrists or arms with constant pumping (batteries are included in the wand, no assembly required). It can also be used for drench treatments.
It can be used inside and outside, lasting up to three months at a time. Against Japanese Beetles, it doesn’t last quite that long though, only about two weeks because they burrow in the ground.
Pros
Cons
- Rain-proof after it dries
- Lasts for up to 30 days
- The active ingredients are B-Cyfluthrin and Imidacloprid
This pesticide comes in a handy 24-ounce bottle with a trigger handle.
The first active ingredient, B-Cyfluthrin, provides a fast knockdown of adult Japanese Beetles and the second one, Imidacloprid, protects for up to a year when used in heavy concentrations.
Once it dries it is rain-proof and won’t wash away. It lasts for up to 30 days against ordinary household insects, the year-long protection only applies to drench applications.
For that, you’ll need several bottles.
This is the perfect size for small or beginning infestations, around a single tree or in areas of limited size. For larger applications, the trigger handle may become tiring on your hand.
Pros
Cons
- The sprayer attachment is included
- Good for drench treatments
- Ready-to-use insecticide kills many bugs
The active ingredient, Permethrin, is a professional-strength pesticide that is in wide use throughout the United States.
It will kill a wide range of bugs, including Japanese Beetles. You can use the included sprayer or pour it out in a drench treatment.
It’s ready to use when it arrives so there is no need for mixing; just shake and use. Permethrin does have a strong odor so you may need a mask to cut down the fumes when you’re pouring it.
Keep pets and children away until it is completely dry.
Pros
Cons
- Fast knockdown
- Lasts for up to a month
- It can be used in drench treatments
The name says bed bug killer but the active ingredients, Clothiandin, Metofluthrin, and Piperonyl Butoxide, are also effective against Japanese Beetles. You pour it out in a drench treatment or use the included spray handle to kill common household pests.
Some people say it has an odor while others claim they can’t smell it. Your reaction may vary so be prepared to use a mask to avoid the fumes. It lasts for about a month for most pests, longer if you use it in a drench treatment in the ground.
You should keep pets and children away from the treated area until it has completely dried.
Pros
Cons
- It is safe for your pets and children
- Kills many different bugs
- The active ingredient is Neem Oil extract
Neem oil is an all-natural ingredient from Neem trees so it avoids the use of harsh chemicals.
You, your children, and pets can enter the treated area without waiting for it to dry. That’s how safe it is!
It can be used in three different ways, as a fungicide, miticide, and insecticide. It can be used on flowers, vegetables, and fruits, even up to the day of harvest.
This allows you to start treating for Japanese Beetles without worrying about harmful residues.
Neem oil is especially good because it kills the eggs, larvae, and adult stages of many insects, including Japanese Beetles. For large infestations though, you may have to purchase several bottles.
Pros
Cons
- Garden hose attaches and mixes as it sprays
- Easy to spray over the entire yard
- The active ingredient is Dinotefuran
This is another 3-in-1 product that can be used as a fungicide, miticide, and insecticide, Once it dries, it is rain-proof for up to 30 days.
It’s easy to use too, just attach your garden hose, turn on the water, and start spraying. It mixes as it sprays.
To kill Japanese Beetles, soak the infected area. You can also use it over the entire yard to kill adult beetles and other insects.
It doesn’t have much of an odor to it, but you should keep your pets and children away from the treated area until it dries.
It will last for 30 days for most insects, but in drench treatments in the soil, it will last for several months depending on how much you drenched the affected area.
Pros
Cons
- Aerosol means no mixing required
- Broad-spectrum insecticide for inside and out
- The active ingredient is Dinotefuran
This aerosol pesticide uses Dinotefuran as the active ingredient and it does have a noticeable odor.
Although it’s mainly used indoors for killing bed bugs, it has its uses outside to kill adult Japanese Beetles. It won’t kill the eggs or larvae though.
We recommend using this one for very early invasions when you see mainly adult beetles. Once they’ve laid their eggs, this won’t be effective at preventing them from spreading.
As with most pesticides, keep your pets and children out of the treated area until it is dry.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Ortho Killer
Ortho is a trusted brand name for home defense against insects of all kinds, including Japanese Beetles.
This one can be used with the comfort wand as a drench treatment to soak the soil.
The active ingredients, Bifenthrin and Zeta-Cypermethrin, are professional-strength pesticides and the one-gallon size will give you coverage of the entire yard.
For short-term use against Japanese Beetles, this one is fast and effective.
Other Beetlee Guides
Curious about other beetle related products? Check out our other detailed guides to help you deal with your pest problems.
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