It’s June and many a gardeners’ most hated day of the entire summer will soon be here-the annual emergence of the dreaded Japanese Beetles. Many of our favorite garden plants are their favorites, too. Lindens, Hibiscus and Beans are often top targets. And we can’t wait to see what rose color attracts them this year. Will it be yellow or pink?

Not much has changed for treatment of adult beetles, but there are a couple of really good options for controlling the grub stage. And since a Japanese Beetle spends about 85% of its life underground as a grub, exercising control over them while they’re in your lawn can be a really effective option.

Let’s start with organic control. Milky Spore Powder by St Gabriel is a one-time application that is guaranteed by the manufacturer to control grubs for ten years. It isn’t harmful to humans, pets or the environment and only kills the Japanese Beetles in the grub stage making it safe for beneficial insects. The Garden Center carries Milky Spore Powder in several sizes, as well as the necessary applicator. A granular formulation is also available for spreaders. This version will require several applications over a two-year period to achieve the best results.

A second option is Bayer Advanced’s Season Long Grub Control. This product contains an ingredient that kills white grubs, including Japanese Beetles and June Bugs, along with several others. It is applied once every season, anytime from spring to late summer, and kills any actively feeding grubs. The Garden Center stocks Season Long Grub Control in both granular and ready-to-spray versions.

Of course, none of this matters when you see your roses and trumpet-vines crawling with beetles. Beetle Killer by Bonide is a great ready-to-spray product that allows you to treat your small trees as well as shrubs and roses. It is safe to use on edibles and ornamentals, and once applied, will offer control for up to 60 days.

Of course, old-fashioned methods like handpicking are also good options. Fill a small bucket with water and swish in a few drops of liquid dish soap. This will break the surface tension of the water, so that when you pop those voracious monsters in the pail, they will drown instead of float. A sharp fling onto a hard surface, followed by a quick stomp is also an effective, as well as satisfying method, though your neighbors may wonder if you’ve learned a new dance step.