What Does a Japanese Beetle Look Like?

Japanese beetles are one of the most physically beautiful and alluring of all insects. Their bright green and gold colors give them a somewhat regal and exotic appearance which quickly distinguishes them from other beetles and insects.

Although they are most well known as a nuisance to gardeners because of their voracious appetite, Japanese beetles are quite easy on the eyes and lovely to look at. The physical shape of the body of the Japanese beetle does not stand out among other types of beetles, but its beautiful colors definitely do.

The beautiful coloration of the Japanese beetle is what sets it apart

The crown and midsection of the Japanese beetle is colored a lovely metallic green. It has six appendages, or legs, which are colored black except for the upper section which is also metallic green.

The back and rear section of the Japanese beetle is colored bronze or a dark gold. It also has a metallic green stripe running down the center of its back from front to rear.

Additionally, there are about six tufts of white hair on each side of the Japanese beetle that appear approximately equidistant from each other and run laterally from front to rear.

Without the exquisite color to distinguish itself from other beetles, the Japanese beetle body physically resembles the body of the ladybug. But people never get these two beetles confused because of the stark difference in coloration between them.

Watch this video by an entomologist describing and showing what a Japanese beetle looks like:

Identifying the Japanese beetle is quite easy because of its distinctive looks. Use the images and video on this page for more information on the visual aspects of the Japanese beetle.