Japanese Beetles

[kitty-lover]

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?

[nan1234]

Hang 2 or 3 Japanese beatle traps 10 feet away from your fruit trees and 1~2 feet above the ground. I do this every year since June before the beatles come out.

[opabinia51]

Great idea nan, thanks!

[Roger]

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.

[opabinia51]

Wow, that's a great idea Roger. Thanks!

Some information on Four O clocks:

https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MIMU

https://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Mirabilis+multiflora

Personally, I would choose this method as it is less invasive and won't potentially harm the soil.

[Gardener Don]

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

[rootsy]

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...