Japanese Beetle Mix

Japanese Beetle Mix

This recipe is to be used in the height of the Japanese Beetle season.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 mashed banana
1 pkg yeast

Mix all ingredients in a milk jug. Place the jug (with the top off) in an area where Japanese Beetles gather. The bugs get in but not out.

A very organic way to go after those beetles.
Edited for spelling

This message was edited Jun 4, 2004 10:24 AM

Another alternative that we have found most effective is to sprinkle some diatomaceous earth in the area. It is 100% organic and kills the bugs by removing the waxy outer layer of their shell causing them to dehydrate. No chemicals involved so the can't build up an imunity.It is safe enough to use in window sills, kitchen drawers ect.
We have many people using it to worm livestock.
works on any insect with a hard waxy shell (boxelder bugs too) as well a slugs.

Jeff, my problem with diatomaceous earth is that it also kills earthworms.

I've seen DE recommended for use in worm-farms to keep the fruit fly population down. I've never heard that it is harmful to earthworms, but I know it can be harmful to beneficial insects. Here's a link I found that discusses DE:
http://ighawaii.com/naturally/naturalanimal/de.html

edited to add:
In case you don't want to read the whole article, here's the part that talks about worms:
Is DE dangerous to my pets, me or my family?
Since DE is dusty and abrasive, it can cause lung damage if breathed heavily. remember, however, that breathing any dusty materials can be dangerous. be sure to wear a dusk mask if applying with a dry blower. Mixing into a water spray eliminates most of these problems. DE will not hurt earthworms or beneficial soil microorganisms. DE is one of the few pesticides in the world classified as non-toxic, although I'm not real comfortable with the classification. I think anything can be toxic if over used or misused.

This message was edited Jul 4, 2004 11:06 AM

We mix 1/4 cup DE to 1 gallon water and spray the foligage of the kitchen garden, trees and grass. We seem to have permanent fleas in the grass and so I also spray the dog beds and rugs. It seems to help and we still have loads of earthworms.

Edited to add- I also spray DE around the mailbox on my frontporch to keep the spiders away from my mail. Don't mind spiders in general if I am not having to fight to get through webs!


This message was edited Jul 5, 2004 10:51 AM

Thanks Darius~ I will try this...

Has anyone noticed dead JB's around Geranium plants? I've read somewhere that they are poisonous to the JB especially the white flowered ones. I put pots out every year and always see JB's belly up on the leaves and at the base of the plant. I'm gonna try to brew up a concoction of leaves and see if it kills or at least deters them from my precious heirloom apple babys. Anyone ever tried this???

Let us know how your experiment goes - sounds interesting!

yes, do let us know! geraniums would be a nice change from four o-clocks!

stefka, yes, the chemical in geraniums (highest in white geraniums) is called geraniol and has been under study for quite some time. (One internet source showed a report dating back to 1929.)

Several months ago while looking for info for a local garden club I came across the report and found it interesting that it mentioned the geraniums that were in full sun had more "killing power" than those in the shade. It also mentioned that some beetles were killed, some paralyzed and would often eventually be okay and fly away. The ones that were mostly killed were from the plants grown in the sun. (Maybe as you set your potted plants out you could put some in sun, some in shade, and see if you get those results, eh?)

I'm quite sure you'll see some results by brewing a tea of leaves/flowers however remember the white geraniums also attracted the beetles to the plants in addition to killing them. If you sprayed the tea on a non-geranium plant (like your baby apple trees) you might attract more beetles to that plant and the spray may have to be consistently applied so that the beetles are sure to ingest it. It won't work as a contact spray.

Keep up informed! I love stuff like this!

Shoe.

Thanks for the hints, Horseshoe. I have to say that the JB's have been so bad around here, the apples themselves, on trees I saw going down the road last year, were so covered that they look like Christmas tree decorations! My two are about 10 feet tall and the only green leaves left are at the very tips. This is even with monitoring every evening. One weekend away from home, and they got way ahead of me. I hate them.

Last Sunday I steeped a handful of geranium leaves in water overnight in a glass jar. Monday evening I took 3 clean yogurt cups and put 6 healthy JB's in each. Jar #1 got just a single small whole geranium leaf. Jar 2 got a small pink rose, untreated, and Jar 3 got a small pink rose dipped in my infusion. (without a doubt my miniature pink roses are an h'or d'ouerve; apples, pussy willow, spicebush, and Japanese maple are the main entrees in my yard!)

Covered all three with plastic wrap with holes poked in it. As of Tues morn, today, they are all still alive and happy. Drat! I'll wait till tomorrow before trying something else. BTW the leaves were from a red geranium and I didn't use the flowers. I also have scented geranium I might use.

Tamara, do you suggest that 4'oclocks may also have an effect? I've grown them in the past but got tired of them, they are so agressive.

stefka, your scented "geranium" is not a true geranium but is a Pelargonium. (Beats me why they call them geraniums; maybe someone else here knows?) They also not only don't contain the geraniol but they are often used in cooking for seasoning so I don't imagine they'll have any poison in them.

Hope you will try your experiment again with a white geranium, not red. I can only assume the white has more potency to it?

As for the mirabilis/four o'clocks, yes, they are noted to also attract and kill JB's. I remember Dave posting that back in 2001 or 2002 and said he had good luck with them planted at the edge of his garden.

Shoe.

Horseshoe I think it's because of the shape of the leaves, but in reality they probably call them that just to add a few more layers of confusion to the issue.
=) Debbie

Hah! Yep, I agree, Debbie. The plant kingdom sure does like to confuse those of us in the animal kingdom! (Or is it us in the Animal Kingdom doing its best to contribute to confusion in understanding the Plant Kingdom? Sheesh....headin' for my Goody Powders.)

ô¿ô

I want to put in my two cents for organic control. My neighbor used milky spore last year and I did not due to some unexpected surgery. Well, her application seems to have done the trick, because I have not seen more than one or two JB's this year. I had heard it took 3 years to work, but so far, I have no problems, and my yard is always a great playground for borers and JB's.

I also have a lot of geraniums this year, none white......hmmmm.

I found the Milky Spore granulated. The bag says to apply spring, summer and fall for 2 years, then you should be okay for about 10 years. I applied it in the spring and summer so far. I am not sure if it's working already or if there were just less JB this year. I only saw a handful this year compared to the past few years. I will apply it next year also and see what happens. We have just under an acre. The milky spore is a little pricey, but if it lasts 10 years, I think it will actually be cheaper in the long run. At least two of my neighbors use some kind of spray and/or traps. I wanted something safe for pets. I try to limit my chemical use as much as possible since we have pets and we also have well water. I had used the traps in the past and wondered if they just attracted more than I would have had without them. The cost of the bags and the lure could add up quickly too. So, hopefully the Milky Spore will work.

How do you apply the milky spore donna? Also, Shoe do you mean perennial geraniums or annuals, which are Pelargoniums? I have the white pelargonium in a hanging basket, just to add to the mystery, there is no signs of bug damage on these plants. I had attributed it to the fact it was hanging, not low to the ground. Blonde moment, I just realized they can fly, can't they? LOL

PrairieGirl - the granulated milky spore is applied with a drop spreader. It comes in a 20 lb bag and it treats up to 7,000 sq ft. I was glad I found this. I couldn't imagine trying to apply the powder over our yard.

Donna, who makes the granulated milky spore that you are using?
I've googled around on "granulated milky spore" and not been able to find it, only the powder stuff.

Hi All
I have a friend that uses Zinnias as a trap crop for the JB's it seems to be working . I only wish it worked for the cuc beetle ?
anyone now what can be done to kill the cuc beetle?
sue

Love Lies Bleeding works pretty good at attracting the cuke beetles. However, for me one year, it attracted so many beetles that they eventually wore the plants down and then dove onto my cuke plants. (Maybe I should've had the cuke plants much further away?)

Shoe.

Plant radishes around the cuke plants, leave them in the ground and let them go to seed. They deter the beetles. Plant beans with your cukes, and plant later in the season so they pass your plants over.

Put out some shallow containers filled 3/4 full with water topped with a little cooking oil.

Here is a link to Milky Spore. They seem to have the granulated version Donna was talking about... You can purchase this stuff on-line from them...

http://www.milkyspore.com/index2.htm

Diann

Hi everyone,

Garden_mermaid, sorry for not answering sooner. I participate in craft shows and fall is my busy season, so I haven't been able to check the boards for several weeks. Ticker posted the same link I used to find out about it. They have a store finder link at the top. When I saw some of the Agway stores carried it, I checked out our local Agway and he had it. He even ordered more for me so I could apply it as directed on the package. I just have to apply it next year and I should be good for a few years.

Donna