Updated July 16, 2019

Certified specialists are receiving calls in Giles County that rose bushes or garden plants are being destroyed by Japanese Beetles.

A Certified Arborist said the beetles are everywhere this year because of a mild winter that allowed them to populate and a lot of rain that allowed their food to grow quickly.

According to the specialist, if they feed on enough of the plants the Japanese beetles will actually stress the plant and cause early defoliation. If that happens annually, a person could lose the plant or have major decline.

Specialists recommend  using ‘neem oil’ for a non-toxic remedy on destroying beetles.

Also, there are cautions against using insecticides, because it kills bees in the county.