The Japanese Beetle hunt is on

RayR · June 26, 2012

They seem to enjoy feasting on Eggplant, Strawberry and Basil leaves the most in my garden. Took a shot of this mating pair today. Sadly this love affair ended tragically shortly after this picture was taken. They took a bubble bath together and drowned.

babice · June 26, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

They took a bubble bath together and drowned.

HA!

Just saw my first 2012 JB this morning -- he was sleeping soundly on my rose. I crushed him in his dreams! Will be heading outside with a bowl of soapy water looking for JBs on my strawberries, basil, etc. tonight for sure!

RebelRidin · June 26, 2012

I've been dealing wit them for awhile now. The infest in a predictable pattern of plant preference... Grapes > Birch > Roses > Eggplant > Cannas > Beans ....

bcday · June 27, 2012

I found the first JB of the year on a grape leaf yesterday. Further inspection of grapes and roses is on the agenda for today!

gardenjefe · June 27, 2012

I'm knee deep in them. They love the roses, some are finding my crape myrtles.

JimM_SC · June 27, 2012

They seem to love Four-o'clocks. The plant acts as a natural drug. They don't seem to die but are very torpid and easy to catch instead of taking wing. I can crush them or brush them into a container of soapy water.
Jim

tjg911 · June 27, 2012

right on schedule with the 4th of july next week i saw the 1st one in the lawn. i stomped it to death. they like evening primrose (wild flower), the harry lauder walking stick tree (elm family) and the pole beans preferring kentucky wonder over "ralph's" the 2 i normally grow. this year i have 3 new varieties so we'll see what they like this year. no kw but ralph's is out there.

tom

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · June 30, 2012

Was just out watering my wife's flower boxes and one landed on them. Have not had any problems in the past hopefully they will find better things to snack on then my flowers and tomatoes.

Craig

RayR · June 30, 2012

Craig, I've never seen one of them eat tomato leaves, though they do use them as landing pads to take a rest sometimes. I've dusted my eggplant and basil with DE, the beetles don't like it and won't settle in for a snack. They seem to have a preference for eggplant, strawberry and basil, but will eat bean leaves and sometimes even pepper leaves. They haven't touched my new Alpine strawberry plants yet, I don't know if its because they haven't found them yet or they just aren't as tasty as regular strawberry plants.

delltraveller · June 30, 2012

I've never had them bother tomatoes. Grape leaves and raspberries are their favorite here. A couple days ago I was shaking them off the milkweed flowers into a cup of Pyola insecticide. Worked well, with minimal collateral damage. Ended up with about 20 oz of evil little beasts.

MissS · July 3, 2012

You do not need to waste your money on insecticides to drown them . Just use a continer of water with a few drops of dish soap and shake the beetles into it. They will drown shortly.

As a repellent, boil some citrus fruit rind, (I use grapefruit) stain it, add a shake of garlic powder and spray this on your plants. It must be reapplied, but it does seem to work.

Patti

meadowyck · July 3, 2012

Those stinking nasty things also love clems. Two years ago when we lived up north, within two days they destroyed 15 of my clematis plants. I've learned to enjoy murdering them (with gloved hands of course) as a bubble bath is too kind!

I've not seen them here in FL yet, but I'm sure they are here.

lakelady · July 3, 2012

I've been seeing them for about 2 weeks. All over the beans and eggplants among other things here and there. I hate those guys!

babice · July 3, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by meadowyck

Those stinking nasty things also love clems. Two years ago when we lived up north, within two days they destroyed 15 of my clematis plants. I've learned to enjoy murdering them (with gloved hands of course) as a bubble bath is too kind!

I've not seen them here in FL yet, but I'm sure they are here.

Doh! This is the first year I'm growing clematis!! Didn't think to check that as it is growing from the side of my deck onto my deck. I've only seen a couple here and there on marigolds, etc., on my deck but will have to be sure to get out there tomorrow and check the clematis!

biscgolf · July 4, 2012

they love blackberries too... and hops... and basil...

this year i am growing both provider and rattlesnake pole beans- they love the provider and leave the rattlesnake almost completely alone, even where the plants are literally touching one another. no provider beans for me next year!

June 26, 2012	#3
RebelRidin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore Posts: 993	I've been dealing wit them for awhile now. The infest in a predictable pattern of plant preference... Grapes > Birch > Roses > Eggplant > Cannas > Beans .... __________________ George _____________________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." Thomas Jefferson, 1787

June 27, 2012	#7
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	right on schedule with the 4th of july next week i saw the 1st one in the lawn. i stomped it to death. they like evening primrose (wild flower), the harry lauder walking stick tree (elm family) and the pole beans preferring kentucky wonder over "ralph's" the 2 i normally grow. this year i have 3 new varieties so we'll see what they like this year. no kw but ralph's is out there. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

July 3, 2012	#11
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	You do not need to waste your money on insecticides to drown them . Just use a continer of water with a few drops of dish soap and shake the beetles into it. They will drown shortly. As a repellent, boil some citrus fruit rind, (I use grapefruit) stain it, add a shake of garlic powder and spray this on your plants. It must be reapplied, but it does seem to work. Patti __________________ ~ Patti ~

July 3, 2012	#12
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	Those stinking nasty things also love clems. Two years ago when we lived up north, within two days they destroyed 15 of my clematis plants. I've learned to enjoy murdering them (with gloved hands of course) as a bubble bath is too kind! I've not seen them here in FL yet, but I'm sure they are here. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 3, 2012	#13
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	I've been seeing them for about 2 weeks. All over the beans and eggplants among other things here and there. I hate those guys! __________________ Antoniette

June 27, 2012	#4
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	I found the first JB of the year on a grape leaf yesterday. Further inspection of grapes and roses is on the agenda for today!

June 27, 2012	#5
gardenjefe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Annapolis Posts: 19	I'm knee deep in them. They love the roses, some are finding my crape myrtles.

June 27, 2012	#6
JimM_SC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 138	They seem to love Four-o'clocks. The plant acts as a natural drug. They don't seem to die but are very torpid and easy to catch instead of taking wing. I can crush them or brush them into a container of soapy water. Jim

June 30, 2012	#8
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	Was just out watering my wife's flower boxes and one landed on them. Have not had any problems in the past hopefully they will find better things to snack on then my flowers and tomatoes. Craig

June 30, 2012	#9
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Craig, I've never seen one of them eat tomato leaves, though they do use them as landing pads to take a rest sometimes. I've dusted my eggplant and basil with DE, the beetles don't like it and won't settle in for a snack. They seem to have a preference for eggplant, strawberry and basil, but will eat bean leaves and sometimes even pepper leaves. They haven't touched my new Alpine strawberry plants yet, I don't know if its because they haven't found them yet or they just aren't as tasty as regular strawberry plants.

June 30, 2012	#10
delltraveller Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 481	I've never had them bother tomatoes. Grape leaves and raspberries are their favorite here. A couple days ago I was shaking them off the milkweed flowers into a cup of Pyola insecticide. Worked well, with minimal collateral damage. Ended up with about 20 oz of evil little beasts.

July 4, 2012	#15
biscgolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 353	they love blackberries too... and hops... and basil... this year i am growing both provider and rattlesnake pole beans- they love the provider and leave the rattlesnake almost completely alone, even where the plants are literally touching one another. no provider beans for me next year!