Well, are they the same or not? According to my research, June bugs and Japanese beetles are different species, but they are controlled much the same way.
Both species live in the ground as larvae, or grubs, and both emerge in their adult form as hard-backed beetles with a voracious appetite for pretty green leaves. Last year I had quite a crop of Japanese beetles in my yard, and they really messed up my roses. These pests cause a lot of problems, even before they emerge, as hungry armadillos dig holes in the yard searching for a juicy meal they apparently can smell.
June bugs and Japanese beetles also share the same enemies. In addition to armadillos, birds, frogs and lizards love them. So a natural solution might be to try to attract birds to the area with houses and feeders, or planting wildflowers and shrubs around the boundaries of your property that will provide food and shelter for these June bug predators.
There are several chemical solutions to this pest problem. Spectracide, Sevin and other companies make chemical solutions that may be broadcast in a granular form or sprayed over the yard in a liquid form. These chemicals attack the underground larva, and that is the key to ridding your yard of the nightly armadillo digging.
For a safer alternative, Milky Spore is a powder that attacks the grub larva. It is easily applied to the yard and is safer for pets and other animals.
A chemical-free solution is bug bags, or traps. These brightly colored bags should be placed away from and downwind of the area to be protected to draw the beetles away and capture them. Simply empty the bags or discard them when beetles accumulate.
Whatever you call them, Japanese beetles could be showing up in your yard at any time, so be on the look. Remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
