Mid-summer is peak season for Japanese beetles across the Piedmont Triad, and they are not picky eaters. Ornamental trees, shrubs, and even fruit trees can end up with skeletonized leaves, the kind where only the veins remain and the rest looks lace-like and brown.
A light infestation usually will not seriously harm an otherwise healthy, established tree. Repeated years of heavy feeding, or an infestation on a young or already-stressed tree, is a different story and can affect growth and overall health over time.
If you are seeing clusters of metallic green and copper beetles or leaves that look chewed through, it is worth having the extent of the damage assessed, especially on younger plantings that have less reserve to bounce back from repeated stress.
Have you spotted Japanese beetles on anything in your yard this summer, and which plants seem to be taking the worst of it?
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Close-up photo of Japanese beetle damage on leaves, showing the skeletonized, lace-like pattern, or the beetles themselves if visible. Authentic photos of real damage outperform stock images.
Canva text suggestion: "Japanese Beetles Are Active Right Now" or "Free Tree Health Assessment"