Beetles, its W A R !!!!

[seaeagle]

On the Flea Beetle you can use The Praying Mantis as a natural control.I have them in my garden every year.But they will bite you and it feels just like a bee sting.I got bit picking butter beans 3 times in the same spot and never even saw her or him, but I knew what it was cause had been bitten before.But she did her job and left 4 nice cocoons. and when it got really cold in Feb. I brought those cocoons in the house, that's how much I value them.They hatched and every little fellow I saw I put it in the garden and saw one patrolling the eggplants yesterday.

Edit to say they didn't hatch in the house

[Mike723]

This year was surprisingly very good with the cucumber beetles.. I only spotted two so far! Last year I was sucking them into cordless vacuum by the dozen.. I have noticed more Japanese Beetles though.. I spotted one on the cukes yesterday and was able to grab his little behind and gave him the ol' squeeze .. muw ha ha ha

luigiwu, your photo doesn't look to me like beetle damage, but more like small slugs or worms, (the way some of the leaf tissue is not completely eaten through.) And when you said it started low to the ground it sounds like non-flying critters. Have you actually seen any beetles?

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by seaeagle

On the Flea Beetle you can use The Praying Mantis as a natural control.I have them in my garden every year.But they will bite you and it feels just like a bee sting.I got bit picking butter beans 3 times in the same spot and never even saw her or him, but I knew what it was cause had been bitten before.But she did her job and left 4 nice cocoons. and when it got really cold in Feb. I brought those cocoons in the house, that's how much I value them.They hatched and every little fellow I saw I put it in the garden and saw one patrolling the eggplants yesterday.

Edit to say they didn't hatch in the house

Thanks! Nice to know they eat the flea beetles. I found this guy hanging out on the back section of Iris this evening. They not so cute when they get big. I know they eat a lot of bugs, but I prefer watching them get tough acting when they tiny.

I wonder if I should move him over to the tomato section.

[seaeagle]

Originally Posted by Starlight

Thanks! Nice to know they eat the flea beetles. I found this guy hanging out on the back section of Iris this evening. They not so cute when they get big. I know they eat a lot of bugs, but I prefer watching them get tough acting when they tiny.

I wonder if I should move him over to the tomato section.

I think they eat all kinds of insects and beetles, unfortunately never seen them eat a Japanese beetle.I think your way of ridding the Japanese Beetle is the best way.That was a great post.If I remember correctly the Japanese Beetle has no natural enemy here, but they do in Japan.Unfortunately someone brought them here.I read this stuff years ago so i could be wrong about a few details. Praying Mantis usually like to hang in the bean section and eggplant, but I have seen them everywhere

[luigiwu]

Originally Posted by JoParrott

luigiwu, your photo doesn't look to me like beetle damage, but more like small slugs or worms, (the way some of the leaf tissue is not completely eaten through.) And when you said it started low to the ground it sounds like non-flying critters. Have you actually seen any beetles?

I only container garden in 5 gallon buckets and the whole thing sits on a frame above the ground. I've treated the ground in my backyard with Sluggo and yet, there is a possiblity that a sly one made its way up the rig. That said, YES, I've definitely seen beetles and killed a couple already! I've seen black ones and there's a bronzey shiney one that I haven't identified. Its the fact that I started seeing them in leaves higher than my head which is why I think its the work of beetles?

Here is a visual of last year's that show how the buckets aren't sitting directly on the ground.

[seaeagle]

I think the bronze shiny one you are referring to sounds like the Japanese Beetle to me

[rhines81]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Rhines- would you have a link for those beetle bags?

Thanks for asking for a link ... I was picking them up at the local supply store and I searched the internet to answer your question ... much cheaper (100%) at Tractor Supply where I intend to start buying them now!

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pro...se-beetle-trap

[rhines81]

Originally Posted by luigiwu

Is this what you mean? My backyard is not even 20ft in one direction. LOL. I don't want all the beetles in the city to show up in my backyard. LOL.
I've seen black ones (flea beetle) and there's a bronzey shiney one that I haven't identified.

http://www.amazon.com/Tanglefoot-300.../dp/B001BO8BWI

Luigiwu, No, do not use them in a small area ... they work to distract the beetles away from your garden but you need a larger perimeter for it to really be effective. Yes, it can work against you if you only have a limited space!! I would definitely not recommend them in your case!

[JamesL]

Luigiwu,
Have definitely seen minor beetle damage as well. Have seen a few cuke beetles, Japanese, and some other unidentified. Not enough to warrant any real measures other than drowning.

Have used Jacks dead bug spray in the past, but not this year.
If I can make it into July without spraying for them I usually don't.