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- Full Member
- Posts: 27
- Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:18 pm
- Location: central illinois
Japanese Beetles
Last year we had a plague of these things. Our fruit trees were covered by big clumps of bugs. Is there anything I can do now to help their invasion?
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- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
Plant Four-O'clocks [Mirabilis jalapa] somewhere near the area that is persistently infested. The 4 o'clocks draw Japanese beetles to them at least as effectively as a bait/trap, and they will feed heavily on the flowers and leaves. Usually within a day, the beetles will die - this plant is toxic if ingested, but for some reason, Japanese Beetles seem to favor it over a lot of other plants.
The are very easy to grow and tolerates almost any soil conditions. And very pretty flowers.
The are very easy to grow and tolerates almost any soil conditions. And very pretty flowers.
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- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
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- Cool Member
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:05 am
- Location: Southern Illinois, zone 5b
Four O'clocks do work! Regarding the beetle traps, remember the Japanese beetles will fly up to a mile to an attractant. It might be better to buy all of your neighbors the traps. I live in the country, Southern Illinois, with local soybean fields and the beetles swarm everywhere by the thousands. The only way I have found to control them effectively from eating everything up is with Sevin spraying almost every day. While I know there are those on this forum that want to stay organic, and I support the efforts, sometimes I just have to get practical. Gardener Don
When the disposable bags get full of beetles, I cut them off at the neck and toss the bag full... I then grab a large coffee can and hang it from the beetle trap and cut a hole in the lid. I snake the part of the bag I left through that hole. Coffee can will hold a heckuva lot more beetles and it's a lot less expensive and reusable.
I grow a LOT of sweet corn and they sure have a sweet tooth...
I grow a LOT of sweet corn and they sure have a sweet tooth...