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Lois, Very informative article & pics--- they Are gross, aren't they?! We don't have any Jap. Beetles, yet anyway...we do get June bugs, so grubs cause grass problems. Mostly, we have Dry grass because of lack of rain! Thanks for the info. =)
The Northeast has been drowning in rain for a month now. No sign of the Japanese beetles here yet, but I'm sure they'll come. The big problem here at my coastal Maine property is lily beetles! I put on a pair of nitrile gloves and go on squishing parties! I also use a small container of soapy water and use the container lid to knock beetles (both kinds) into the soapy water. At the height of their seasons, I go on "beetle patrol" morning and night. I've also had some positive results spraying with the biological BT.
I would like to see a lawn that has infestation since I don't know whether I have grubs or not. I have dry spots here and there. Patches, some look like a "C". Can one tell me what it is and send it to me via email? hilde.novak@sbcglobal.net
I use traps...but if i do find them on anything I have, I use my thumbnail to sever their heads. This way I don't get all their guts on my fingers. Always use two hands because they let themselves drop when you go to take them. This way they fall into your other hand if there are several.
We have tons of the darned Japanese beetles, I'm about at the end of my rope with them!!! My morning glory leaves are chewed to bits, my roses look awful, and now they're on the crepe myrtles. They're also on my cosmos and passionvine and hibiscus. It's very gross, but they make me so mad I squish the dickens out of them, with my fingers, I HATE them!!!!!
Thanks for the timely article, they emerged several days ago. There are 3 kinds of plants that are their favorites in my garden: hollyhock mallow, Rose of Sharon and the roses. The past several years, at the beginning it was usually a standoff but with my regular beetle patrols and improved techniques (from observing their behavior) in trapping them in a bottle and suffocating them, I usually win the battle after several weeks of persistent offensives and kill hundreds of them. One year long time ago, I used milky spore which significantly reduced their number the following year. Now I almost enjoy the activity of pouncing on them and feels the excitement much like a predator going for a kill.
Well, my overall catch this year was 23 quarts. So, that's 23 quarts of beetles that didn't lay eggs that will grow into grubs. I tried Milky Spores and found it ineffective. Right now I use Bayer Complete as a followup both during the season and in the Spring. I effectively had ZERO damage to any of my plants.
