What Do Japanese Beetles Eat?

Japanese Beetles are known for their wide-ranging diet, consuming a variety of plant species.

• Leaves: They eat the tissue between the veins, leaving a skeletonized appearance.
• Flowers: They consume petals, often damaging the reproductive parts of the plant.
• Fruits: They eat soft-skinned fruits, causing significant damage.
• Grains: They can feed on corn silks and damage crops.
• Grass and Lawn Roots: Beetle larvae, known as grubs, feed on the roots of grasses and other plants.

How do Japanese Beetles Eat?

Japanese beetles feed by chewing on the leaves, flowers, and fruits of a wide variety of plants. They have strong mandibles that they use to consume plant matter.

• They first land on a plant.
• They identify the edible parts using their antennae.
• They use their mandibles to cut into the plant tissue.
• They chew and ingest the plant matter, often leaving behind a skeletonized leaf.

What do Japanese Beetles Drink?

Japanese beetles are a type of insect that primarily consume plant matter. However, they do need hydration. Their primary source of hydration is from the plant matter they consume, but they can also drink water.

• Water: This is the most common drink for Japanese beetles, often obtained from dew or raindrops on plant leaves.
• Plant Sap: They obtain hydration from the sap of the plants they consume, which is rich in water and nutrients.

FAQs about Japanese Beetles

1. How often do Japanese Beetles eat?

Japanese Beetles eat daily during their active season, which is typically summer.

2. How long can a Japanese Beetles live without eating?

An adult Japanese Beetle can live for several days without eating, but this will greatly reduce its lifespan.

3. What do Larvae Japanese Beetles eat?

Larvae Japanese Beetles primarily eat the roots of grasses and other plants.