Japanese Beetle Problem....

Junkman · Sep 5, 2005

This year, the Japanese Beetles have been worse than any past years that I can remember. They have decimated a few of my plants to the point that they have no leaves left on them. The beetle traps haven't worked very well either. Mike (PineRidge) suggest milky spore, but after checking the cost and the amount of land that I would need to treat, it will break the budget for years to come. Is there any economical way to get rid of these pests? They are eating the Rose of Sharon blossoms as fast as they open!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

DaveNay · Sep 5, 2005

Are these the ones that look like Ladybugs, but stink when squished, and they bite? If that's what you are talking about, we have them by the 1000's of pounds in the fall (they migrate from the fields to the house during harvest /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif), then I don't know of any solution. I have researched methods of treating them from harsh chemicals ($$$$ and pollutant) all the way to trying to find if there is a predator I can bring in.....it doesn't look like anything works.

Now that I think about it, you must have different bugs, the fake Ladybugs are predators, that's why the farmers like them so much because they eat the other bugs, but leave the plants alone.

Dave

Farmwithjunk · Sep 5, 2005

They hammered on my sweet corn about the time it started silking. I use liquid concentrate SEVIN sprayed on at low rate. (Not sure of rate now. Mix rates on bottle. I vaguely remember 1 quart per 48 gallons water?) It kills Japanese beetles deader'n a doornail.

I sprayed 5 acres of sweet corn for under $75.

Junkman · Sep 5, 2005

If I start spraying now, will I interrupt the life cycle of them, so there will be less to deal with next year? I also have noticed that some of my trees have the dreaded Gypsy Moth larvae started in them. I have been spraying them with a dog fly and tick spray that seems to work, but it is about $15 for a quart bottle. The dogs are worth it, but I am not sure about the trees.

Farmwithjunk · Sep 5, 2005

I'm not too sure about how it effects NEXT YEARS crop of beetles, other than the fact it kills THIS YEARS beetles.

Now you have my curiousity in full "gotta know" mode.

r0GuE · Sep 6, 2005

We had a bumper crop of the beetles last year. They may have already laid their eggs because also last year the grubs were VERY bad and killed half my grass. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

PhilNH5 · Sep 6, 2005

Junk,
Milky spore works. And it tends to stay in the ground so its' effectiveness is longer term than a typical pesticide.

I had trouble with Japanese beetles in MD. Brought 2 of the pheremone traps and was emptying a bread bag a day on each of them. I think the pheremone attracts more than the bags collect. I felt like all of the japanese beetles for miles around were saying "Hey there's an orgy over at Phil's place - Lets go!) So I eventually took the traps down.

We hand picked the beetles off of my wife's rose bushes. Carried a bucket filled with water and a squirt of soap to break the surface tension so the beetles would sink. Then just drop the beetles in. That was effective.

I spread milky spore when I notice the grass dying and pulled up a piece of turf loaded with the grubs. You are right that MS is expensive. But for us it was very effective. And it lasted for at least 3 years until we moved.

Phil