Illustration of Japanese beetle
Japanese beetle
noun
: a small metallic green and brown scarab beetle (Popillia japonica) that has been introduced into eastern North America from Japan and as a grub feeds on the roots of grasses and decaying vegetation and as an adult eats foliage and fruits
Examples of Japanese beetle in a Sentence
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Check Regularly for Pests and Disease Japanese beetles can decimate zinnias seemingly overnight.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
The best time to use nematodes is when the Japanese beetles are in the grub stage and most active in the soil.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
The strong smell of garlic may be delicious in an Italian restaurant, but pests, specifically aphids and Japanese beetles, will steer clear.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Scout daily for potato beetles, Japanese beetles, and other garden-eating pests.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
The best time to use nematodes is when the Japanese beetles are in the grub stage and most active in the soil.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
The strong smell of garlic may be delicious in an Italian restaurant, but pests, specifically aphids and Japanese beetles, will steer clear.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 10 June 2026
Scout daily for potato beetles, Japanese beetles, and other garden-eating pests.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Japanese beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Japanese%20beetle. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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