Comments on: Meet The Beetles: Frederick Dobbs on Japanese Beetles

By: Toni Roberts

Toni Roberts — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:23:23 +0000

I’ve been using Bayer Tree and Shrub systemic insecticide for 3 years on my plants that are most attractive to Japanese beetles. I apply it in April and it has greatly reduced damage to my Harry Lauder’s walking stick, hybiscus, and Wildberry rose. Definitely worth a try!

By: Raina

Raina — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:54:57 +0000

Just wanted to say thank’s for a great article and the listings of plants that may be resistant. I live 40 miles west of Chicago and the last three years I was horrified have witnessed a huge increase in these beetles as have my neighbors, those that garden. They will devour those plants, trees, and shrubs favored first, as they finish they move onto those less favored, and was told by my local nursery that they will eat any and everything, depending on how large of an infestation there is (we have Himalayan birches). (paragraph 9)

We do treat the ground, and do spray the trees, use Milky Spore (takes a few years to see benefits I am told), I handpick and drown in soapy water what I can reach every morning and evening (no traps please, they should be banned!!!!) – it becomes a mission. I also prune the buds of those favored roses and do cover those plants that I can which seems to help, but you still have to pay attention to the leaves…and then ofcourse they just keeo flying in. (My best friend uses pyola and had luck. She has a small yard yard though and uses almost solely a natural approach with nematodes and other remedies, and chemical only in absolute desperation. We will also cover her flower cutting beds this year.)

Treating them is also difficult because those neighbors with grass do not treat, it really needs to be a community effort (neighbors banding together and like minded) otherwise may cancel out your hardworking efforts -it’s an uphill battle. (See your paragraph 10)

I grew up in the East and was aware of this beetle in my mother’s roses from time to time, but never to volume that I have experienced these last few years. You can go to various subdivisions many miles away and see trees “chewed” up. I will look forward to the day we can really have some effective on the beetle, one the doesn’t have conseqences to the environment. It is a work in progress to settle on those applications that work for you against this beetle and look forward to what research comes up with (paragraph 12-16)

By: Frederick Dobbs

Frederick Dobbs — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:00:01 +0000

Dear SOGT, Thanks for your comments. It would be interesting to know what she uses, particularly since it sounds as though it’s effective.

By: Simple Organic Gardening Tips

Simple Organic Gardening Tips — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:45:16 +0000

My sister in law has had problems with the japanses beetles in the past. Now she uses some type of organic pesticide type spray which takes care of them. I am not fully sure what it is called, but I will find out.

By: Frederick Dobbs

Frederick Dobbs — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:45:54 +0000

Good luck, MJ.

By: MJ ORourke

MJ ORourke — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:29:29 +0000

Thank you for the informative and interesting article on Japanese beetles. I feel armed for the struggle this year.

By: Frederick Dobbs

Frederick Dobbs — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:20:34 +0000

Dear Debbie, Thank for the tip.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:16:02 +0000

I have found spraying plants with deer repellent makes plants less appealing to Japanese beetles. Not practical for trees, but works on my crape myrtle and smaller plants.

By: Frederick Dobbs

Frederick Dobbs — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 04:30:33 +0000

Thanks, Gary. I hope your luck holds.

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 03:20:32 +0000

An Excellent article on Japanese Beetles, when I first planted new roses I had a ton of Japanese Beetle. As the years go on there seem to be less of them…and they are there for only a few weeks. Thank God….. I think you have given me some new ideas. Thanks for the great information.