I found my records.....amazing to say the least! I bought mine from ARBICO Organics. The Biocontrol Consultant is Jennifer Bauman. Her E is jennifer@arbico.com. They are on line
arbico-organics.com The were very competitive two years ago when I reapplied. There are toll fee telephone numbers on the web site. I forget the state but it is in the Mid-West. This firm has been serving the organic needs of America for a long time. They don't play games. They want your business to come back to them.
Too Many Ravenous Rabbits This Year!!!
Might as well be a million dollars as $500. LOL I'll just have to continue to muddle along with the lures and some Sevin.
I had looked at the nematodes too but have never found anyone who used them to see if they would work. They can be applied in the fall I think.
I also keep hoping this is a cycle that will end soon. I lived here for years without any serious problems from the beetles. Then about five years ago we started getting inundated with them every summer.
I don't have a big problem with voles. I have dogs and cats and they seem to take care of those.
You need advise and guidance when using Nematodes. The windows of proper application are relatively narrow. They are not inexpensive so proper use is very importent. ARBICO Organics have one called Nema Seek.....That is one of the few that can move to your larva. Most others are stationary and the larva have to move about and bump into them.
Hart, Has there been new development or construction near you? I read that Japanese Beetle infestations are often the result of large ground disturbances. I'm surrounded by large scale construction. I would start with maybe 2 cans Of the Milky Spore and treat your most prized areas, then do another two cans every year. If there is continued development in your area, the problem probably won't go away in the forseeable future.
Doc, Have you ever used Nematodes? I've always been leery of introducing alien plant and animal life to an area. That's one of the reasons that I didn't go with Milky Spore at first. The manner of death they create is particularly gruesome and I worried about the possibilitiy of them spreading and eventually affecting neighbors pets. It seems that so many of the biological problems that we have are the results of the introduction of beneficial plants and organisms gone awry.
Milky Spore has been around a looong time (I helped my dad apply it to our lawn, probably 25 years ago)... if it were problematic in some way, it would probably be known by now.
That's a good deal on the big cans... thanks for letting us know!
I'm sure your right, critter. I am more concerned about the nematodes.
Our area is presently over run with Ladybugs. Some people have to vacumn hundreds of them off of their ceilings everyday.
Stormla, I had to laugh at your question about development. I live way out in the country in a remote valley with only one road leading in and out, surrounded by farms and a national forest. You couldn't find another place in the state where there's less likely to be any development. What I have around me is acres and acres of fields, not even farmed fields immediately around me just fields and some wooded areas and a couple of other really old houses. There are a few new homes built here and there but not big subdivisions. Most of the land doesn't perc so it isn't suitable for homes anyway.
I would imagine weather has a lot more to do with surges of Japanese beetles than any ground disturbance.
I did quite a bit of reading about the nematodes when I looked into those. What would be helpful is finding someone who has actually used them and knows whether they're effective or not.
Uh, Stormla, those ladybugs are eating many times their own weight in harmful bugs every day.
those aren't "real" ladybugs, but some sort of non-native invader, if I'm recalling something I've read correctly...
I know there are some studies being done now on the use of nematodes to control iris borer, but I haven't looked into the latest results, myself.
Actually, they are real ladybugs, Critter. I wrote a pretty lengthy story about them a few years ago. They are introduced but they do no harm and a lot of good.
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/predators/harmonia.html
Thanks for the link, Hart! I knew there was something about them, but couldn't quite put my finger on the memory...
I think it remains to be seen whether the Asian lady beetles do no harm or not. It could be real trouble if the Asian lady beetles don't eat all of the same things as the natives, and replace them, as is happening in Europe.
Brought to you by the same agency that introduced kudzu.
The entymologists I talked to all said they do no harm and that they actually do a better job of getting rid of harmful insects than the native ladybugs. None of them had any real concerns about native ladybugs being crowded out. At any rate, the initial post from Stormla said they were a problem. They can be pesty in the house in the fall but they don't do any actual harm and I would never do anything to kill them. Maybe we could teach them to eat Japanese beetles. LOL
But, yeah, those wonderful folks who brought you kudzu. We're from the government and we're here to help you. Run, little gardeners, run!! LOL
Hart, So much for that theory!!! As relates to the beetle lures, I keep reading from more sources that they actually attract more beetles to your property. I use 2 bags and have to empty each bag 2 or 3 times a season. That's a lot of beetles!
I can only speak from my experience. Like I said before, how would you tell they were attracting more to your yard? Of course you're finding lots in the bags. If there are lots of beetles, the bags are designed to lure and kill them so you're going to find lots in the bags. Without the bags, you'll find lots of beetles but they'll be on your plants.
If you're worried about it, don't use them. Just be prepared to spray several times or hope that they won't be that bad this year.
As to nematodes I consulted with ARBICO. You can too! They do not turn away any reasonable potential customers.
The biological ballance of any decent healthy soil contains both good and bad nematodes. Any purchased compost tea quality product will contain nematodes with the good boys ballanced to control the bad boys. Nematodes are allmost everywhere except as a lower life biological form they may have been killed off by the poison salts of man made fertilizers and the insecticides, fungicides and herbicides.
I used nematodes in conjunction with Milky Spore in my food producing garden. I use very little if anything that would kill them. They may still be a part of my success and lack of many grubs. When I say lack of any grubs I mean "all" grubs. If nematodes did move to your neighbors place how would they know? How would you know? Since any you purchase are benificials that would be a good thing. Actually only one type move anywhere and then very slowly. ABRICO calls that product NEMA SEEK. Many firms don't even know about this form of warfare let alone have the critters for sale.
I used them together....actually a year apart. I now have very few grubs. Grubs I can see. Nematodes and Milky Spore I can not see. How could any user say any more based on science or bilogical facts? Both products are biologically sound. They are not man made or altered. Again they are most likely in small numbers already in most soils. I both cases when the grubs are not there to support them they die off. Spores become ineffective with age if not supported by grubs. Therefore fly ins are always welcome. They feed the nematodes and the spore.
I just can not believe it. Yesterday I closed all of the open vole holes. Before closing them, I put 1 to 3 of the Ramek balls in them. According to the instructions, I also placed 3 or 4 of the balls outside of every hole. These balls are the size of small marbles, about 3 to 4 times the size of the other ones I was using. They are a vivid green color. In my big bed, there is not one of these balls anywhere. I put over 100 of them down on the surface of the bed.
The same is true of the bed along side of my house. There are still a lot of them left in the beds in front of my house. You are supposed to keep putting them down until they stop disappearing. I used 2 bags and have 1 left!!!
My beds are ablaze with butterflies today.
An even bigger surprise, there are 100's of GIANT beetles, that look like scarab pendants that you would see on a necklace buzzing all over my lawn and beds. They are green beetles that are about 10 times the size of Japanese beetles.There are birds everywhere dive bombing at the beetles. I suppose tomorrow, the locusts show up. So far I haven't seen any of these beetles eating any plants, but they are digging at the soil, probably laying eggs. You can't believe all of the music from the birds.
Those are junebugs, Stormyla. I think they're in the same family as scarab beetles. Maybe that's what's causing the holes.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/junebug.html
Thank you, Hart. Every once in a great while, you get a day when you feel like you just are not winning. Today is one of those for me. I'm rigging up some protection to wear so I can go outside and PLANT something. LOL
You know, this morning I noticed giant holes on some new large rhododendron leaves and I thought, those holes are to big to be Jap. Beetles, bigger even than slug holes on hosta. Now I know about June bugs. I'd always heard the name, but have never seen any. When I just read about them, people say their bite really hurts. Do you know how long they fly around? Couple of days, weeks? And I thought those stink bugs were a nuisance! I'd better go check to see if my chimney flue is closed. LOL
I don't ever remember seeing a lot of junebugs or seeing them for long. Sounds like you have a real infestation. I thought the comment about the holes they dig was interesting.
Golly is it hot out there! When I went back out, en costume, they were all gone. They must retire early for the day. I read several other items on them. Most are brown and come out at night. This is a slightly different species that is also classified as a June Bug. I'm sure the holes are not from them. I've been having the holes for more than a month. The big beetles just showed up today.
The recommended treatments are mass spraying of foliage and soil with sevin to kill the adults and applications of milky spore or grubx to kill the grubs. Whenever I was reading about beetles and grubs all of the articles described the grubs as being half an inch long. Many of the grubs here are larger than an inch.They must have been the June Bugs. I've been here 3 years and never saw them before. One article said that some types, the grubs live underground and reach maturity every 3 to 4 years. During that time they're down there chomping away in your garden. The voles are having a smorgasbord!!!!! I wonder if that is what Doc was calling Chafers. I understand that the term applies to beetles in general.
Hart, So far I still haven't seen a squirrel here since putting down that snake-a-way. But I did find evidence of some slight digging today against one of my caged in shrubs. And some azalea branches were torn off and discarded.
I called that Carroll Gardens today. That's where I bought the Ramek. They said that there being no balls meant that I had a very large population of voles and to keep putting them down until they stop disappearing. I hope it's the voles taking them and not the birds. They contain strychnine.
I've never done a mass spraying of insecticide. It's not something that I want to do. I usually only spray a shrub or the roses here and there, and then use some organic spray or soap.
Everyting I read indicates those measures won't be effective on June Bugs. Apparently they will fly around maybe through November. With each mating a female usually lays 75 to 100 eggs, which become the larvae or grubs for the next beetles. The grubs cause extensive damage to turf and plants with their tunneling and munching.The adults are particularly troublesome in the south where they attack fruit, nut and Oak trees. It's said they can defoliate a Pecan tree in a day. Well, I wouldn't mind them defoliating a few black walnut trees! At least then I could mulch my other leaves!
All but one site said that Milky Spore would have no effect on the grubs. The recommendation is to spray everything, including the soil at the first emergence of the adults. Only a professional spraying should be done to the trees. Then, in late August, early Sept. to do another spray on the ground to get the grubs.
I also read online in a US Military publication about how much money and ensuing ground water pollution the military is spending and creating while trying to protect their golf courses.
Whew, this is a tough one. I'm going to call our extension agent. It seems these creatures stop flying around about 2 pm. They are whom the "Jitter Bug" is named after, due to their erratic and poor flying skills. I'd like to find some other form of treatment as, I object to the pollution as well as the health risks of a mass spraying.
There's a big article in today's New York Times on all of the damage they are causing to the different botanical gardens and golf courses there. Apparently this is the first known incident in New York City, caused, they suppose, by the wet weather and mild winter.
I tried searching DG for info and could only find photos. Does anyone know of any experiences with these? If I wanted to post a thread seeking help, what would be the appropriate forum? Thank you everyone for all of your kindness.
Try garden pests and disease forum???
Thank you Jen. I don't know how I overlooked that.
There's so MANY of them, I couldn't find it for awhile either.
Sorry to report that all but one site researched is dead wrong. All beetles several hundred different in the family most of us call June bugs are indeed from white grubs. Milky Spore will absoutely control them. When they are up out of the ground you may use a contact insecticide if the situation is bad enough and you need to save valued plants. If the Milky Spore is in place it does not matter how many eggs are placed the larva will be diseased and make even more Milky Spore in the process. In a year or two you can put the harsh chemicals away. You will not need them much if at all after the Milky Spore has time to develop on or in your ground.
My property is controlled so I do not see them hardly at all. Milky Spore and possibly nematoads get them underground. I never used any soil drench applications of harsh insecticide for any beetle. I'm never sure what or how much the nematoads do assuming they are still living in my soil. I do not know how to tell. That is why I refer you to other biologist specialists in the market place.
If your damage is localized you may spot spray for them with Sevin or Spectricide both available at Lowes or equal big box garden supply departments. A professional might try to tell you his chemicals are better. Not always true. Stronger requiring greater dilution is more than likely the truth. Read your labels and ask any vendor for specifics as to what chemical is being used. No mater what the strength the label instructions are the key.
Both Sevin and Spectracide will work as a contact killer. Drenching the soil would not happen on my property let alone twice. Hundreds and thousands of dollars can be spent doing half a job of controlling and you are right back to square one the next year. That is more than likely what the military bases are doing because any expense is fair game for the golf grounds. I would wager most grounds keepers listen to the chemical salesmen who sure do not mention a better way to go. Yet some fine country clubs have reverted back to organic treatment and management....and they are doing just fine. They are the leaders in today's movement away from harsh chemicals. They are still the minority.
Thanks, Doc. I appreciate your imput. I called the coop agent & they didn't know anything about June bugs here or NY. They just wanted me to be sure the grubs were BIG. They recommended the active ingredient in sevin and said that I had to spray the ground in late August. They told me to buy a respirator mask. They said Milky Spore wouldn't work. When I asked more questions, they referred me to Ohio state U website.
Ohio website is actually pretty good. They have statistics on results with different insecticides and Seven's active ingredient comes in at a far 2nd place with only a 50% kill rate. Something called Ficam has an 80% kill rate. They say that over 4 to 5 years Milky Spore can be effective, but that the commercially available form of the bacteria does not perform well in Ohio soil, especially Southern Ohio, where outbreaks are very bad.
They go on to say that very good results are achieved with nematodes and name which ones, but again stress the time factor needed to work.
They go on to offer useful advise, like water as little as possible, so grubs have to dig deep and away from plants. Don't fertilze or compost ground as you will grow fat grubs and attract VOLES! These instructions are for may to sept. But they also say you have to spray twice.
Doc, I went to Arbico to look up the nematodes. They are reasonably priced and are on sale now. Their website is where you read the quantity application for Milky Spore. They say 1 tsp for every 4 feet. I ordered the MS Powder from Snow Pond as they were cheaper & some Nematodes from Arbico.
As far as the spray, I might call someone or try to see if that Chemical is around. Spot spraying is not an option. There are 1000's of them everywhere. Ohio su says that if we get 3 dry years in a row, the problem should go away. I will think about the spraying.
Boy, is my yard full of birds!!!!! and wasps, the june green bug's only natural enemy.
Well good the war is declaired. Best of luck for your efforts.
University discussion and sometimes papers on subjects are often full of baloney handed down from others and borrowed incorrect comments from other university reports. That's just the way it is footnoted accordingly.
Please do not give up your mulch and organic fertilizers. Those grubs do not eat either. They stay in the root zone where their food is the roots. If it got dry enough to dehydrate grubs it would not also grow anything. If the roots are there the grubs will be too.
It will not take three or four years to realize results. In three or four years the dying grubs will create more spore and that is what strengthens and improves the results. I would suggest you could maybe get half or more of them diseased and working for you next spring. A few will be caught on your day of application or the next time it rains. That starts the process
This has been some very interesting reading. When I first started reading today the image that came to my mind was about how as children, we used to tie string or thread to one of the june bugs legs to see how they would fly. Awful!!!
Again, I treated two beds that were over run with grubs last year and I haven't seen the first one out there this summer yet, anyway. I have only seen one Japanese bettle, but many of my plants have bug damage. John hung up two of the bags and has caught a few dozen of them.
Thanks for the education folks.
Ruby
Ruby, Every website that writes about them speaks of similar childhood experiences!!
I had a small can of Milky spore and put it around the bed of worst grubs last week. We'll see how it works. My new Rhododendons' leaves are history. The holes are the size of quarters & half dollars. Six shrubs just eaten. I don't know if they will make it.
When I was out last night putting down more vole poison, as I went to fill the holes, the whole section of ground collapsed and a 2' crater opened up. It was about 18" deep. They had been using sections of the Groundhog's den as runs. I was afraid this was going to happen any day as i keep feeling spongy sections of ground. At least my foot didn't go down in it.
My question is where's all the dirt????? If they've tunneled everywhere, what did they do with the dirt? I could use some!! LOL
Ugh, stinking jbs decimated one of my hardy poplars, they are all the way in the back of the property and without my glasses I didn't see the brown leaves, today I was like "what the heck?, what happened to my tree?" So I got the the bucket of soapy water and drowned all that I got my hands on about 10.
Jen, You just don't know what they will eat. Today the giant leaves on my Heuchera Brownies are in tatters. They (Jap beetles) were all over my basil yesterday so I sprayed with the soapy solution and today the basil is all curled and brown.
The voles did not redig in the filled in crater. They moved over to my Hosta bed and opened 3 new holes. They also opened 4 new holes around my peonies. Something dug at the new azaleas that I planted last month. I discovered deep long trenches in the mulch in fhe shrub bed in front of my house. When taking photos of all of the shrubs for PF I noticed brown patches at the bottom of almost all of them. Reading about evergreen diseases reveals that this is often from Voles chewing the lower branches.
It's probably the voles eating all of the Remik and not the birds. Three beds have had the pellets untouched for 3 days. The pellets in the other beds keep disappearing.
Put down another whole bag of Remik today.
Wow stormyla, after reading about all your tactics, I think you've declared WAR! LOL
No, RCN, Just practising homeland defense!!! LOL
Stormy- I think you need to get yourself an outdoor cat. Maybe you can borrow my brother's. They have no small critters, he doesn't mess with anything bigger than he is though.
Thanks, Jen. I've been considering it. I haven't had a cat since I was a child and she was an indoor cat. I'd hate to witness any groundhog vs. cat confrontations. The reason I don't have any pets is because of traveling and long hours away from home. But maybe an outdoor one would be OK. Would it require any care other than just feeding? I'm afraid I would become attached to it and want to bring it inside. Shots?? Trips to the Vet???
Yes, you still have to do all the routine vet stuff. Believe me if they spend all the time outside you won't get attached to it. My brother's cat is not very cuddly and kinda mean. I have to keep the kids away from him.
Thanks, Jen. I'll read up on their care. Maybe I'll call the SPCA.
A movement on the deck caught my eye just now, and I glanced out the patio door to see THE GROUNDHOG RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR TO THE BACK DECK. Bold devil. I ran him off before he munched my new astilbes in pots under the canopy there.
An "outdoor" cat is still a responsibility, in my book... yes, shots and trips to the vet, just like their indoor counterparts. And a sheltered place to sleep, especially during the cold winter. The local humane society where my MIL adopted their most recent cat won't adopt out cats for outside conditions... they want people to pledge that they will keep cats indoors, partly because feral cats are such a problem in that area.
Thanks, Critter. I was thinking it would need some sort of winter shelter. I would want to get it treated against diseases, but I'm still not sure how it would fare if I went away for 3 or 4 days. For longer trips, I'd have someone come over to replenish the food and water.
I'll do some web reading on them. Even though I've often wanted pets, I just thought that my schedule would be too tough on them. I always had poodles when I was young and I still miss them. When they died, I did not replace them as I moved into a brownstone in the center of Philadelphia and started working very long hours.