Japanese beetle control?

[lindrusso]

It seems that this must have been discussed before, but a search did not yield any results.........

We are completely infested with these green buggers. They have defoliated one small tree and are 1/2 way through a much larger tree and several other bushes. Swarms of them!

I've heard the bags simply attract more - there are so many that I'm not sure bags would work anyway.

I'm not crazy about the idea of using insecticides, but if that's the only effective measure, I will do it.

We have very few trees in our yard as it is and I don't want them killing off what little we have!!!! :mad:

Any ideas? What has worked for you?

[Becky13347]

They are on the attack at our house too. They are really bad this year. Last year we sprayed all our leafy trees/bushes once at it lasted the whole summer. We have sprayed FOUR times this summer (so far) and today they were back with a vengence. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. :mad:

[sneezles]

Not sure we have these buggers in Texas but I'm emailing DS#1 aka the Bug Guy this thread to see if he has any thoughts...

[SueK]

Alysha- I'm not sure if it's the type of foilage that attracts them , but we have a tree that gets swarmed every year. We just put 3 of those "Bag a Bug" bags out on Tuesday and they were full today! :o We put two more out tonight, hoping to get more this weekend.

I've heard that if you put the bags out, put them where you don't wnat them (i.e. the tree that is attracting them). It hasn't made a difference with us. They're still swarming the tree, so we hung the bags there. They (the bags) really do make a big difference for us.

[lindrusso]

Thanks Sue. Are they particularly bad for Central PA this year or is it always like this? We had a few in Indiana, but not liek this!

In Indiana, they liked my basil. I want to plant basil next summer, but now I'm afraid to!

I think we'll probably try the bags. I like that idea better than spraying. And I really don't think they could get much worse.

Sneezles - I'd love to hear what the Bug Guy has to say. :)

[Sami]

You can treat your yard with milky spore powder. It won't take affect this year and if your neighbors don't use it and don't have trees that the Japanese beetles like, you may still get some, but it will be less. Milky spore is a natural product.

Our neighborhood used it about 10 years ago and last year when I began noticing a lot of the buggers in the yard, I bought some more milky spore and put that down. So far this year I have had none.

Sami

[Aubergine]

as an avid gardener, i must tell you that hand-picking is the only route. i want to refer you to another site, but you have to realize that experienced gardeners will agree.

the problem is, when you you see them piggy-backed two and three together, they're having JP orgies. they copulate as they chew, i kid you not. then the female drops and burrows a bit, lays eggs, and comes back up for more. more than i ever wanted to know. i guess they exist in a perpetual genetic Studio 54 Phantasmagoria.

you can use chemicals, but that will also kill most beneficial insects, like ladybugs, spiders, the caterpillars that will become monarchs, and many others.

your choice.

thing is, since the females are continuously laying eggs, the more one captures, the fewer problems next year, since the eggs thing is geometric progression.

me, i prefer baggies when hand-picking, because i can zip them closed. average day, in 3 circles, 50. now, this would be daily over 7 weeks, usually.

i wish you well.

[SueK]

Thanks Sue. Are they particularly bad for Central PA this year or is it always like this? We had a few in Indiana, but not liek this!



We actually never had a problem with them when we lived right in town. Now that we moved a bit out of town, we've had them every summer right around this time of year. I'm thinking certain types of trees, etc. must appeal to them more. I took a walk the other day and while some homes had a lot of bags hanging from their trees, some people didn't have any, and I didn't see any beetles swarming around their yards.

We took down the full bags last night sprayed the tree and put up two more new bags. We'll see how long it takes to fill up those!

[sparrowgrass]

Being an Extension agent for the University of Missouri, my first response to questions like this to tell people to talk to their local Extension office, usually found in the county courthouse, or nearby.

This link (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html) will lead you to your local office.

Alternatively, google "japanese beetle control university" and you will get university research based info on the problem.

Knock wood, they are not a big problem here.

[lindrusso]

as an avid gardener, i must tell you that hand-picking is the only route.

I used to handpick when all I had was a few on the basil, but we're talking a big tree where a ladder would be necessary. And we're talking huge numbers of beetles. I want to get rid of them, but I don't want it to be my full time job. :)

Sue - I did read that they are attracted to certain types of trees. In our yard, they seem to like anything red. They are on our red tree out front, a red shrub, and two different red shrubs in back. They also like our rose bush.

I'm going to buy a few bags at Lowe's today and see how that goes. At least it's not spraying a pesticide.

[sneezles]

Sneezles - I'd love to hear what the Bug Guy has to say. :)

From the bug guy:

Japanese beetles are the hardest pest to control. There are no natural predators, and bait stations are the most effective method instead of spraying on a monthly basis.They are doing the right thing by putting out "the bags" if they don't want to spray. They can also get a consumer level Sevin dust and dust the areas below where the beetles are eating, as they tend to move down the plant when they eat.

[rosen]

If you go the Milky Spore route-- I really urge you to contact your local extension office for the correct time to put this down. In central VA we tell folks to put it on their lawns mid August to early Sept. The concept is to kill the beetles at the correct stage of their life cycle. We have charts we send folks to explain the timing. Too soon or too late & the results will not be as good. MS is rather expensive, so it helps to know when is the best time in your area. And please keep in mind that if your neighbors DO NOT treat their lawns-- all their beetles will still invade your yard. They have a wide range & will gladly come to yours!

If you use the trap bags-- note that you are attracting ALL the beetles from several acres around your property. They are attracted to the bags & will come from many yards away-- eating their entire way to your bags. We tell folks that the best place to use the bags is in your neighbors' yard!

Hand picking will really do the best job. Have a can of soapy water & a stick. Try to go out early in the day when they are sluggish. Use the stick to knock them into the can.

Sevin can sometimes bring the numbers down-- but won't do much for control.

And yes, some years are much worse than others. Plants eaten this year may not be touched next year (except for roses-- they get eaten every year!).

There are some systemics out there that can be applied to plants-- but they will kill off all the good bugs, too.

[Aubergine]

i handpicked 100 today before noon. i'll probably get another 50 before the day is over. :rolleyes:

Sevin is really bad stuff, imo. not good for the environment.

rosen, i use a zip-log baggie and my fingers, 'cause sometimes they drop, but often i just gotta grab one between my thumb and forefinger. also, i've had them fly out of the can; they don't escape the bag. i'm just resigned to being on JP Patrol 2-4x/day for the next 2-3-4 weeks.

the plants that they are drawn to here are leaves, not flowers: wild grape vine (no fruit) in droves; also, pasture rose (long-ago done blooming), crepe myrtles, and my lemon balm, for some wierd reason. the only "flowers" exception is Rose of Sharon, which they cannot resist, but mine's not in bloom yet.

[rosen]

Aubergine: I use my fingers, too-- although jest nekkid fingers (no baggie) and I squash them! The folks that call into the Extension office or that I instruct at clinics usually shudder & squeal when I say to pick them off by hand. :eek: NO ONE wants to touch a bug-- so that's how the cup/water/stick came about.

We always try to steer folks to use organic or non-invasive methods. But the vast majority just want to know what chemical they can go out & buy. I love when I get someone who asks for folk remedies to try first. They make my day. :)

They aren't too bad in my yard this year. Just a few on my 1 rose bush-- none on the crepe myrtle yet (knock on wood).

A guy in the next block has 3 traps right outside his front door. It takes all my willpower not to go knock on his door & give him advice. I don't 'cause I'm not supposed to do things like that-- unless I see something or someone doing harmfull stuff.

[lindrusso]

Thanks Sneezles and everyone else.

They are totally out of bug bags in this area! Not sure what we'll do.....maybe I can order some online.

From what I've read, people are divided (as on these boards) about the bags but that's the route I'm going for now. If it doesn't seem to control them somewhat, we'll go from there.

I'm not sticking my head in that big old tree with those gross things flying around to pick them. I'm okay with snakes, toads, lizards and such, but flying crawly things are NOT my thing. ICK! I can take them on a plant lower than me, but not buzzing all around my head. ACK! :D

[suebear37]

The tv garden guy here always says not to put the traps in your yard but to hope that your neighbor does!!! :)

[lindrusso]

The tv garden guy here always says not to put the traps in your yard but to hope that your neighbor does!!! :)

Hee, hee. We were hoping that the traps we saw in our neighbors' yards would help, but I don't think the traps are getting emptied. Not helping enough. :)

[BucknellAlum]

The japanese beetles are horrendous here in SE Pa this year! I take the dog out in the morning and they are hovering all over the grass. I thought the heat killed my hanging baskets, but now I think it was the beetles, because the leaves have a lacy appearance.

I don't know how you hand pick them, not that I have the time. They seem to be flying and in motion all the time, I rarely see them sitting on a leaf.

All the stores around here are out of the bags. I don't want to try spraying some chemical around, as we now have a puppy plus the 2 kids. This is also the first year we did not have a lawn service and I wonder if that contributed to the infestation?

If only they would eat the thistle weed that is overtaking everything in my garden beds. It is like something out of a sci-fi movie! In the spring we sprayed it with Roundup, pulled it, put down Preen and lots of clean mulch, and now if I miss a few days weeding or Round-upping, I have thistle plants that are literally a couple feet high! (I don't like the Round-up, but they spread by the root and it seemed like pulling them up made 2 or more shoots erupt from the same root).

[Aubergine]

Aubergine: I use my fingers, too-- although jest nekkid fingers (no baggie) and I squash them! The folks that call into the Extension office or that I instruct at clinics usually shudder & squeal when I say to pick them off by hand. :eek: NO ONE wants to touch a bug-- so that's how the cup/water/stick came about.

perhaps you misunderstood me: i do it totally with my hands/fingers...sheesh, that would be like putting on a pair of of disposable gloves before doing the dastardly deed.

i don't like it, but i figure, they have no mercy for my plants, i can only show them the mercy of a less cruel death.

um, to be clear, i don't squash them. after i collect a bunch in a baggie, they sort of fight each other to the death, i think......it's tooo awful to think about....

[BucknellAlum]

Oh my gosh, we finally got some bait and traps. As DH and I were walking out the backyard to hang them up, the little buggers started SWARMING all over us! We quickly pushed the stake in and walked away and there were literally hundreds of beetles swarming in our hair, face, clothes and all over the trap!

I then noticed swarms of them coming from the other areas of the yard too, like something out of a horror movie.

I don't know if I am attracting more to my yard (all my neighbors have the traps up too), but I have to think I am making a dent in the population, just looking at the half full trap already!

[sneezles]

Oh my gosh, we finally got some bait and traps. As DH and I were walking out the backyard to hang them up, the little buggers started SWARMING all over us! We quickly pushed the stake in and walked away and there were literally hundreds of beetles swarming in our hair, face, clothes and all over the trap!

I then noticed swarms of them coming from the other areas of the yard too, like something out of a horror movie.

I don't know if I am attracting more to my yard (all my neighbors have the traps up too), but I have to think I am making a dent in the population, just looking at the half full trap already!


Good Heavens! I'm certainly glad to say that I have never encountered one of these buggers and I hope I never do...me thinks I'd have to move! :eek:

[lindrusso]

As DH and I were walking out the backyard to hang them up, the little buggers started SWARMING all over us!

Ewwww!

DH finally got fed up and got some insecticide spray.

I'll be glad when this bug season is over! And you'd better believe we'll be ready for next year!

And dang, it's hot..................

[sneezles]

Alysha,
I just read where guinea hens are a good source for controlling these buggers! And they're great for fire ants too! We have some that roam around the pastures and they're a great alarm system! ;)

Fortunately, Texas seems to be fairly clear of this destructive bug!

[Aubergine]

<sigh> i wish we were zoned for fowl and/or livestock, although it would be impossible w/ Stealth Kitty Edison. still, i will probably long harbor this MS-wannabe wish to have chickens...

Buck, those swarms aren't dangerous---they don't bite nor attack persons... but it should put you on the alert to be checking your plants carefully, b/c, like i wrote initially, the females drop, burrow, lay eggs, and come up to do it again. and again. to use the geometric progression analogy, every female you don't catch this year will yield potentially hundreds or more next year, etc., in years to come.

also, not me, but someone else did post (MM?) that traps only catch 25%.

sounds like your averages are similar to mine...if they swarm the traps, you can be certain there are a geometric-progression of hundreds/thousands more that you are not getting. if i can hand-pick 100+ in one day, every day...my guess is that i'm only getting maybe 60%.

that's why the info in re: picking early a.m. is true; they don't 'fly' at higher temps. moreover, i've learned to stand and wait, 'cause within seconds, they will return, like the moth to the flame, and are even easier to grab, the moment they settle on a leaf.

they are the garden equivalent of roaches, imo, and i am in full favor of all-out warfare, but not using chemicals, a position which i do not believe needs defending.

[sharris315]

Washington Post garden editor, Adrian Higgins, had some information on infestations of Japanese Beetles. A contributor said that he knew Higgins doesn't like insecticides, but desperate people do what they have to do!

He recommended BayerAdvanced Tree and Plant Systemic - says it protects 12 months. www.bayeradvanced.com Since the JBs you have this year can determine how many you have next--getting rid of as many as you can as quickly as you can makes sense. It appears that this is poured on the ground around the plants - not sprayed on.

I don't know anything about using this - I have not tried it since we don't have the problem (yet :rolleyes: ) but thought I'd pass it along.

(In a discussion of the traps, when asked where to place them, Higgins said 50 miles away. :) )



Shar

[lindrusso]

He recommended BayerAdvanced Tree and Plant Systemic - says it protects 12 months.

I don't find a product by this name listed. The only thing I see that acts for 12 months is this: Tree and Shrub Insect Control (http://www.bayeradvanced.com/garden/products/details.cfm?id=12) , but it doesn't list Japenese Beetles as something it fights. The two products that contain the word "systemic" seem to be specific to certain plants and flowers. Here's the list (http://www.bayeradvanced.com/garden/products/) of garden products.

Thanks.

[sharris315]

I went to the site and searched "Japanese Beetles" and got a number of links - even a discussion forum. But in the forum, I searched "Japanese Beetles" again and came up with a post by the "Bayer Advanced Expert" (I'm in waaaay over my head here! :rolleyes: ) who suggested the Tree and Shrub Insect Control (poured in the soil so must be systemic) so I think that must have been the one referenced in the WP.

Sorry I can't give you first hand information :(

Shar

[schuh]

They are doing a number on my plants this year. They seem to like the zinnias this year. Witnessed a total orgy on one leaf last night.

I just read an article about a local almost-organic gardener. She uses double-stick tape for catching the buggers. Something to try...

I'm with those that are a little squeamish about touching them.