I just saw a Japanese Beetle on roses today! (Merrifield: centers, garden)

[Alley01]

Should I be concerned? Do they get really bad here? A few years ago in Dallas, we had a huge problem with them attacking any flower that was fragrant along with our Crepe Myrtles so I am wondering if the same thing happens here and I need to prepare for the worst? They easily moved up the bugs I don't like list in record time after my last encounter with them.

[Ben 'n Jen]

found them on my squash this morning. Spray with Sevin liquid. I was beetle free within an hour.

[saganista]

There will always be a few Japanese beetles around, so I wouldn't let one be too much of a bother. We have had years in the past when they were simply everywhere and nearly everyone had one or more traps set out to try to do something about them. Hasn't been anything like that for a long time now, though. A little spray might indeed go a long way.

[Caladium]

As Scooby Doo would say: "Rot row!" Looks like it's time to put out the bags.

The last few years have been lightweight, so it wouldn't surprise me if we had a lot of them this year. We're probably due. In the fall, put grub mix in the lawn and you'll see a lot less of them next year.

[Alley01]

Thanks guys! I will be prepared just in case! They may look pretty, but those things are pure evil!

I smooshed the first one so hopefully his friends get the message.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Caladium

In the fall, put grub mix in the lawn and you'll see a lot less of them next year.

Milky spore. Over time, it is effective as a control, but it can get expensive, as rather large areas would need to be treated to have any appreciable effect. It does nothing about current populations, but reduces the number of offspring that will survive to emerge the following year. There can also be ancillary damage to beneficial species such as earthworms and ladybugs, and to be most effective, it should be applied in August -- not usually the most pleasant time for carrying out major yard work.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by saganista

Milky spore. Over time, it is effective as a control, but it can get expensive, as rather large areas would need to be treated to have any appreciable effect. It does nothing about current populations, but reduces the number of offspring that will survive to emerge the following year. There can also be ancillary damage to beneficial species such as earthworms and ladybugs, and to be most effective, it should be applied in August -- not usually the most pleasant time for carrying out major yard work.

Milky spore is indeed the one the garden centers recommend. I hear it works better, but you have to get your neighbors to use it, too. Otherwise the beetles invade from their yards. Sevin's general anti-grub mix is what we use. I'm not sure why, but it seems to have reduced our japanese beetle population quite a bit (although it's always possible that it's just coincidence).

Also, if you have extra room and a sunny spot, plant Four O'Clocks. Their flowers attract the beetles... but they're poisonous to the beetles, too. So soon you'll have lots of dead beetles at the base on the plant. Don't plant these close to your roses, however, because they'll get eaten by the beetles drawn to the four o'clocks.

ps. If you want to have some fun with Dave at Merrifield Garden Center, ask him what he thinks of planting Four O'Clocks to kill beetles. It gets him all flustered because he thinks it's an old wives tale. Maybe so. All I know is it worked for.

[kutra11]

Riddle me thee, Riddle me this... ...

Q: How do you identify a Japanese beetle?
A: From the camera around its neck!