Do Japanese Beetles Bite?

Do Japanese beetles bite? To answer this, we'll let some of the community do the talking...

One user claims:
"YES! They can surely bite! Today I was outside and felt a sting on my shoulder. Upon slapping it there was a Japanese beetle in my hand. I now have a large raised circle about the size of a quarter with two tiny teeth marks in the center of it. It's very itchy as well. They DO indeed bite."

But, Will Martin disagrees:
"Japanese beetles don't bite, but they are sticky and unpleasant if you touch one apparently! What they will do is eat your plants."

However, many more users believe the bugs DO bite:
"I see people here saying they don't bite. But I believe they do. I had one fly in my ear today and it got stuck. I had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital to get it out because the pain was so bad I was puking and couldn't drive. I swear that thing was biting me."

AND

"One got in my ear when I was asleep. I know the pain. I was screaming and crying at 3 a.m. I finally took the turkey baster and filled my ear with water to drown it. Finally, it fell out."

YES they can surely bite! I'm currently online looking into this. Today I was outside and felt a sting on my shoulder, upon slapping it there was a Japanese beetle in my hand. I now have a large raised circle about the size of a quarter with 2 tiny teeth marks in the center of it. Its very itchy as well. They DO indeed bite, however maybe some people have different reactions to it.

I just got a bite on the back of my neck and have a swollen spot the size of a toonie (Canadian $2.00 coin) and its itchy!

I just got bit by a beetle, it is laying in front of me. I have two tiny bite-marks that bled on the flank of my abdomen and I wouldn't have been aware of the beetle's presence if it were not for the pain that gradually accompanied the bite. It is most definitely a Japanese beetle.

Interesting that so many websites say they do not bite, everyone's a know-it-all. Maybe this one is part of a new breed of aggressive Japanese beetle... Right..

I see people here saying the don't bite. But I believe they do I had one fly in my ear today and got stuck. I had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital to get it out because the pain was so bad I was puking and couldn't drive  I swear that thing was biting me

Japenese Beetles have three body parts and according to Dr. Sutherland they do not bite you.  But the spines on their legs may feel you itchy or thorny. For more information please visit
cahe.nmsu.edu 1997/090197.html

Do japanese beetles bite

I don't understand why some people are saying they don't bite also. When I was a kid, I had one latched onto my scalp. It was hard to pull off but after my grandma finally got it off, there was a little bit of blood coming out of where it was. If it was the beetle's claws were holding on to me, then the legs would have just come off and it should've been a lot easier than it was.

No Japanese Beatles Do not bite I have been studying them for years now and even holding them right in the palm of my hand with no bites 

I even aggravate them with pocking and nothing they do not bite!

Ok I hold these beautiful beetles all the time and they NEVER bite me. As for the ear thing they are very big I'm curious to how it got in your ear they are as big as my thumb nail. My kids play with them ALL the time. Yes they are killing my cherry tree and I'm having issues getting them off of it -  but they are beautiful beetles and have not harmed us once. 

Some people confuse the Asian beetle which is an orange looking lady bug and call them Japanese beetles but they are not they are Asian beetles and yes those DO bite and have a terrible smell if you smash them. 

As for the know it all comment I'll believe research scientist and what I know from holding these beetles over someone that has no experience with bugs or other animals. 

Btw don't always believe what you read on the internet do research in books from real scientists you will get more accurate information.

They bite.  One bit me two days ago on my arm.

They definitely bite!!!!! Had a Japanese beetle bite me while we were riding motorcycle. Lots of pain and swelling. How do I know it was a Japanese beetle? I pulled up my shirt and it fell out. Only bug there. So yes they do definitely bite!!

Also used to handle them as a child and was never bitten.  Although the other day I felt a sting and went to smack whatever it was and it was a Japenese beetle!  So they do definitely bite without a doubt!

Japanese beetles don't bite, but they are sticky and unpleasant if you touch one apparently! What they will do is eat your plants - if you click here you can find pictures and more information on the beetles and their habits.