Pest problems - Page 2

Kazedwards · July 8, 2016

I have another one for TV to ID. They are on the sunflowers, corn and zinnias. They started on the sunflowers earlier in the year and did some damage. Now they have moved on to the corn and zinnias. The sunflowers are recovering but the other two are suffering. I'm thinking swuash bugs but not sure. Also might get some DE to counteract them. Is my ID right?

-Zach

gorbelly · July 8, 2016

Japanese Beetles. They eat just about everything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_beetle

Kazedwards · July 8, 2016

Hopefully DE will get rid of them.

-Zach

gorbelly · July 8, 2016

The problem with DE is that it's very general and will harm any hard-bodied insect. If the problem is severe, sometimes you just have to do it. But because I try to attract beneficials to the garden, I usually dispose of the few Japanese beetles the birds leave me by simply knocking them into a big cup of soapy water. They're pretty slow and clumsy, so it's not hard to do. If you have a really high population, you might want to spread milky spore powder. You'll need to look up when the best time to apply it is, as you want it to be in the soil when beetle grubs are growing and feeding in it.

Gardadore · July 8, 2016

Kazedwards, I am having a similar problem with beetle larvae on the Ground Cherries. For the last two years they have decimated my crop but this year I go out and squish them every day. But in my case they are Cucumber Beetle Larvae. They look similar but I think are smaller. My garden is all mixed up. The Potato Beetles usually go for the the eggplants, not the potatoes and the Cucumber beetles leave the cucumbers alone but love the Ground cherries and potatoes! No bean beetles yet, thank goodness but I never see them on the beans! You will know which beetle larvae it is if you keep an eye out for the adults in the same area.

MissS · July 8, 2016

Yes, they are Japanese Beetles and will eat everything is sight. There numbers get larger each year. Milky Spore does work but takes a year or two to start being very effective. I use a bucket of soapy water and brush them into that for a nice refreshing swim. Citrus spray works. Boil your orange and grapefruit rinds until soft add a little hot pepper juice, strain and spray your plants. The problem with this one is that you need to reapply it after every rain. There are Japanese Beetle traps that work very well...BUT... they do attract quite a few of them so place the trap at the back of your property away from your crops or you will just be inviting more guests.
I plant a hedge of Four O'Clocks. The JB's love to munch on them but the plant is toxic and kills them dead. It is very effective at reducing the numbers.0

Tracydr · July 9, 2016

Strange that these were larva just posted and today I found them on two of my eggplants.
I assume yours had fat,soft bodies? Mine did.
I've been fighting the Japanese beetles on my asparagus for a month but today I found the red,squishy potato beetle larva on two eggplants.

July 8, 2016	#16
Kazedwards Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 368	I have another one for TV to ID. They are on the sunflowers, corn and zinnias. They started on the sunflowers earlier in the year and did some damage. Now they have moved on to the corn and zinnias. The sunflowers are recovering but the other two are suffering. I'm thinking swuash bugs but not sure. Also might get some DE to counteract them. Is my ID right? -Zach __________________ -Zach

July 8, 2016	#18
Kazedwards Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 368	Hopefully DE will get rid of them. -Zach __________________ -Zach

July 8, 2016	#21
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	Yes, they are Japanese Beetles and will eat everything is sight. There numbers get larger each year. Milky Spore does work but takes a year or two to start being very effective. I use a bucket of soapy water and brush them into that for a nice refreshing swim. Citrus spray works. Boil your orange and grapefruit rinds until soft add a little hot pepper juice, strain and spray your plants. The problem with this one is that you need to reapply it after every rain. There are Japanese Beetle traps that work very well...BUT... they do attract quite a few of them so place the trap at the back of your property away from your crops or you will just be inviting more guests. I plant a hedge of Four O'Clocks. The JB's love to munch on them but the plant is toxic and kills them dead. It is very effective at reducing the numbers.0 __________________ ~ Patti ~

July 9, 2016	#22
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Strange that these were larva just posted and today I found them on two of my eggplants. I assume yours had fat,soft bodies? Mine did. I've been fighting the Japanese beetles on my asparagus for a month but today I found the red,squishy potato beetle larva on two eggplants. Last edited by Tracydr; July 9, 2016 at 06:47 PM.

July 8, 2016	#17
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	Japanese Beetles. They eat just about everything. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_beetle

July 8, 2016	#20
Gardadore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Saylorsburg, PA Posts: 261	Kazedwards, I am having a similar problem with beetle larvae on the Ground Cherries. For the last two years they have decimated my crop but this year I go out and squish them every day. But in my case they are Cucumber Beetle Larvae. They look similar but I think are smaller. My garden is all mixed up. The Potato Beetles usually go for the the eggplants, not the potatoes and the Cucumber beetles leave the cucumbers alone but love the Ground cherries and potatoes! No bean beetles yet, thank goodness but I never see them on the beans! You will know which beetle larvae it is if you keep an eye out for the adults in the same area.