Where are the Japanese Beetles?

I've never had Japanese beetles before. They are hovering about 1 ft. above the ground. You don't want to walk in my back yard. I got a trap for them and it is in the middle of it. My yard is so stark with no trees or flowers, I wonder why they're here. There's nothing to eat. Is it possible that they emerge from the ground?

With no vegetation except the grass, I am bewildered. The house is 8 yrs. old and I am the third family to live here. No one has wanted any natural beauty. It will be slow going with only me to develop the areas. I don't want the Japanese beetles to come back later!!

What are the best techniques to get rid of them?

Karin

i have seen a couple here so there are coming lol

For starters, I would get rid of the trap. The traps contain attractants and that is just what they do - attract your beetles and your neighbor's too.

There is a good bit of information on the Roses forum on a product called Milky Spore which is something you put down, water in and it kills the JB grubs in your soil.

I remember one year when I saw them "rising" out of the ground, I was terrified, there were so many, that was the worst outbreak I have ever seen here (must have been in the mid-80s).

We have a few now and I am going to see how many I can catch and drop into a jar with kerosene, which kills them almost instantly.

i agree, an old coffee can with kerosene and drown them will do the trick. I remember as a little girl, a german family friend used to take me in her garden and she would pick the jap bugs off the rasberry bushes and plunk them in the old folgers cofee can. they died by drowning, and quickly.

I learned this year - the love Yoshino cherry trees. they are eating mine alive. gotta fix that.
I learned previous years- they gorged on my string beans
I learned this year - they have not touch my eastern red bud tree, not one single leave is eaten. So plant that, which happens to be a native for us Carolinians. Good Luck.

This message was edited Jun 20, 2007 12:17 AM

This message was edited Jun 20, 2007 12:17 AM

i read somewhere that you not suppose to smush them if you do they send out a scent that attracts more beetles to your garden so drawn them dont scush them

Yes, they do emerge from the ground. My Jack Russell Terrier loves to dig out the grubs and "crunch", they are gone! Free protein, I guess...
I wish that her appetite were enough to get rid of them, but I have beans, lots of roses, cannas, and some other choice goodies apparently too good to pass up.
I have thought about milky spore, but it also kills the lightning bug larvae...I really like lightning bugs:)
If they get too bad to pick off by hand, I'll use neem oil spray on my non edibles.
It's a delicate balance.

I decided to remove the Japanese Beetle trap. One of my close neighbors put one in his back yard, so I'm hoping that they leave my yard alone. I've been reading about the Milky Spore, and there also is a controversy about it. I do hope that I'm able to use it, though.

Karin

Have been patroling my yard for Japanese Beetles every day that I can with a bucket of soapy water (dish detergent). I get a diabolical satisfaction everytime I drown one of them! Have sprayed everything that is special with Sevin (I know, that's not good for butterflies and beneficial bugs, but I tried some of the organic stuff--Pyola, from Gardens Alive! and it didn't work) and I use the Sevin on just the most important favorites of the JBs. Have left the spray off the Four O'Clocks because I can cut them down after the plague is over and they will grow back. That's where I take my bucket and walk around and around the bed knocking the JBs off into the soapy water (or picking them off--am thankful they don't bite or sting!). I figure that for every one I drown--that's one less Mama to produce those gross slugs and maybe one less JB next year.

I can't remember when they finally leave us alone in SC. Does anybody know? Actually they never leave us alone--we just won't be able to see them anymore but they'll be underground doing their dastardly deeds on the roots of our grass. I've spent a small fortune on all sorts of stuff like Milky Spore, Lawn Guard Bio-insecticide, etc. and they seem to be getting worse every year.Trouble is, I live on a farm and have about a 3 acre yard and can only afford to treat the areas closest to the house...

what sparked the controversy of the milky spore?

Ardesia mentioned it. I had not heard of it. Should we be aware of an expiration date on the bag? Does the product degrade or show a non-effective result if it is on a shelf too long? Where would you buy a 20 lb. bag and feel confident it was going to do the job for you? I want to put it in my Scotts spreader and use it that way.

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have not tried it as I have a minimal problem with JB's but the folks on the Rose forum swear by it along with beneficial nematodes which are also good for other pests. I am traveling today and tomorrow but I will try and find the link (s) as soon as I can.

Found this on the Ohio River Valley Gardening forum today ... http://www.ghorganics.com/JapaneseBeetle.html

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

thanks for all the advice. here in eastern nc, the jb's feast on crape myrtle and have a never-ending supply of food. they also enjoy my concord grapes, which, thanks to ya'll, i will attempt to control with my jb mash in a milk jug. and my jack russells love to roll on the grubs. awful smelly mess which means bathtime.

Ahhh, another JRT lover! I can see their complete joy while rolling:>> Bath? An acceptable risk!

off topic but necessary question to tggfsk -- have I chosen the wrong zone? I'm east of you, near Greenville. I'm new to Dave's. And, at this moment, sitting with 2 JRTs and a Scottie on one small couch. JRT #3 is visiting grandsons.

Welcome to Dave's! You are going to love it here. You should also check out the Carolina Gardening forum on the site. Lots of folks from NC and SC in there:-)
Are you in Pitt County same as Greenville? If you are, it looks to me that you are also in 7b. I am using the USDA Hardiness Zone Map in the back of the Plant Delights catalog. Of course, you would also be close to 8a and may be able to baby some things into that zone.
I was just in Greenville last week. Daughter going to ECU this fall...Lordy, it was humid over there! Your house must be quite busy with 3 JRT's and a Scottie...but very happy:-)))
Bev

We have the worst Japanese Beetle plague in years. They've eaten my roses, cannas, crape myrtles, astilbes, and even wisteria! I, too am patrolling daily and happily killing off the little suckers as I see them.

I have heard that milky spore can take a couple of seasons to work. Dont' know if that's true. I know one thing, I'm gonna quit putting down castor oil and let the darn moles come back so they can eat the grubs! I'd rather have a mushy lawn and keep my lovely plants and flowers. :)

I do hope they are done soon.

Deb

I've got JB's too, here in Manning, SC. I first noticed them on my roses, and now I see them on my crepe myrtles. I've been picking them off, hubby wants to do more than that but I don't want to use anything that will hurt the butterflies and good bugs. I'd never heard that about smushing them will attract more of them, has anyone else heard that? I've been so mad a couple of times, finding them in a rose blossom, that I'll squeeze the life out of them and leave the bodies there as a deterrent, but maybe that's the wrong thing to do?

GreenThumb_NC:
Thanks for the link to http://www.ghorganics.com/JapaneseBeetle.html
I'm going to try making their version of beetle traps. The info what "trap crops" which attract them (so put traps in them to kill them) is interesting.

Also the idea of "interplanting" the plants (they list some) which are toxic to them which they like to eat. Now those are worth finding!

EasternNC gardner you are my neighbor kinda we have a place at Kennel's Beach and there is quite a few of us in that area.
Welcome.

Hey tggfisk blooms are getting closer to opening. I can hardly wait.

Lavina

Awesome! They are exciting, aren't they?
I wonder if others that got EB are getting blooms this year, too...But, of course, you got the mamma sized one.:-))

Bev

Bev, I can't tell yet, but it is one of the biggest crinums in the yard--my first year growing any so I'm wayyyyy excited!

JB's have been brutalizing cannas, hibiscus, hops, veggies...doggone things!

Yep, they're still attacking my roses, crape myrtles, cannas, and wisteria. Seem to be fewer now? I hope so.
Deb

Only by a few...whenever I see them humping I flick them immediately though..lol

Hey, Kara! So glad that it's doing well for you! I sure hope you gave it plenty of room...It'll be massive:-)
Must tell you that the ee's you sent are amazing! They are my first ee's and I got so excited by them that I bought Big Dipper at PDN...Cool!
Bev

Really Bev, your first..heehee...I am so bad for starting your addiction then, it only gets worse from here

Room, you say? lol, here's the most photogenic part of my favorite tropicals bed

I know, Kara...I'm jonesin' for C.'Coffee Cups'. I blame it all on you! PDN has it...for $35!
See what you've done;-) I can't seem to help it...they look so cute bobbing in the breeze..
Bev
We are sooo off topic...sorry!

Don't even look at black marble and yellow splash then....

heehee..enablers..lol

Keep it up, Kara;-)) I'll just wait until you get all of them, and bum them from you...You don't live ALL that far from here!!!
I have seen yellow splash...Lovely! PDN has that one, too...Black marble, I'll have to look up, darn you:-))))))))

Here's a pic of it :)

You've REALLY done it now!! Think I don't know that you're toying with me..LOL! Remember PDN opens up again in Sept. Expect to see you here...BF or not:-)

LOL! Aren't those two great! Love em!

I do plan to go to PDN in September--BF would only slow me down anyway unless I trade him in for a new speedier model by then..lol--I wouldn't order, but when you go in person you can pick out the big stuff. I'll surely let you know when that rolls around, and I'm hoping someone will organize another roundup for the fall, too.

Here's one of my yellow splash leaves with the prettiest coloring

heehee...I would show you some Xanthosomas, but that's just cruel ;)

I'll be anxiously awaiting MY part of all those! LOL... Coffee Cups awaits!
When lavendargrrl and I went to PDN 2 weeks ago, we divided everything and still had big plants, but twice as much to deal with. The rest of y'all on the CG forum need to make a trip in September! Tony always has the coolest ee's, cannas, and crinums! Not to mention all the other goodies and hostas!

Bev, I have noticed a couple of runners from the Yellow Splash, I will reserve one for you when it gets bigger :) I

Score!!!
Thanks! :-))))

Are the Japanese Beetles gone? I haven't seen any in the past week or so. Could it be true??
Deb

They're still here...lol, though not as bad :)

Tropicanna: Oh. sorry. ;-> I really think they've left my area. Hope they leave NC soon, too!
Deb

I still have some, but not many, I collect them into a cup with soapy water. They esp. like basil and my little dogwood. I am in zone 7a.