How to Kill Night Beetles

Night beetles are medium-to-large beetles that come out at night. These beetles often fly around homes due to the attraction to lamps, night lights and porch lights. Night beetles are not a single variety of beetle, but rather can be one of several varieties including Japanese beetles, June beetles and Chafer beetles. These beetles fly around dive bombing people, get stuck in hair and clothing and create a mess when stepped on. The presence of too many insects and beetles at night can also cause a health risk according to a study published by Environmental Health Perspectives in October 2010. Killing the beetles can be done using a multistep process.

Bacillus thuringiensis insecticide
Small lamp with white bulb
Large jar
Vegetable oil
Bird houses
Birdseed

Instructions

- 1
  Treat the grass where night beetle grubs live to kill the grubs before they turn into adults. Use an insecticide designed to kill beetles or use Bacillus thuringiensis to kill the grubs. Sprinkle the lawn with the insecticide using about one pound per 10 square feet. Water the lawn for about 30 minutes after applying the insecticide to cause the insecticide to seep into the ground where the grubs live.
- 2
  Make a trap for the bugs near any outdoor light source. Fill a jar about one or two inches with vegetable oil. Place a small lamp with a white bulb above the jar. The beetles will fly into the light and fall into the oil, which will kill the beetles.
- 3
  Encourage birds to live in your yard to eliminate the beetles naturally. Build bird houses for purple martins and other birds that eat a large quantity of insects. Place several bird feeders throughout the yard and ensure dogs and cats stay out of the yard to encourage birds to linger.

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