Japanese beetles and blueberry bushes

[Mary Catherine Williamson]

Hello everyone,

Could someone direct me in the art of eradicating Japanese beetles? They have not come out yet, but I expect them any day now. They came last year so I'm pretty sure they will return. I have high hopes for my blueberry bushes if they can survive the little buggers

Thank you in advance for helping me out

MC

 

[baymule]

Have just moved from non-JB's to area that has them, striped potato beetles too! Will be watching this thread!

 

[Smart Red]

Long term eradication? Application of Milky Spore. A tad expensive but it works well over time. Instant eradication? Grub-B-Gone or some such product that kills the munching grubs in the soil

It is getting close to the time when grubs stop eating and begin the final transformation into adults. Grub killers don't work their best when grubs are not actively eating.

Never, never, never put up those JB traps and expect to eradicate the problem. The traps will capture all the JBs in your area, but will also lure more and more to your place. Since not all will get to your traps, the ones who are left will replenish the supply for next year.

The best idea I've had is to put traps about a mile away from your property in every direction. That calls them off your property, but I've never had the courage to actually mount them and reckon with my neighbors. Hand picking works really well for me since I am retired and able to make the rounds several times a day.

Put a small amount of dish soap into a bucket with a couple inches of water and pick or brush the JB off into the bucket where they will eventually drown. I use a safe soap and feed the JBs to my chickens or leave the container out over night where the raccoons seem to love them.

Early morning, evening, and during windy days are the best times to hand pick. Early morning means cooler weather and they don't move so quickly. Evening means darkening sky and they're done flying. Wind is actually best, because the hang on tighter thinking the movement is wind driven so you can reach them easier without them flying (or dropping) away.

One survival technique for JBs is to simply drop off your plants when in danger. On a cold morning or windy day, putting a bed sheet under the plant you are cleaning the JBs off will net you a few more of the pests since they can't hide in the grass or dig into the ground to lay more eggs.

Once JBs start eating on a plant they signal for others to join them. This is good if you have a few 'trap' plants to sacrifice to the beetles. Pick most of the bugs off, but leave a few to lure others to that plant. Keep removing most of the beetles while leaving enough that other JBs think it a good place to congregate. Take all the JBs off plants you want to keep them off and eventually -- with other food sources nearby -- they will stay off.

I have never tried spraying a general insecticide on JBs since I try not to use chemicals that kill other insects as well. I will cut my plants down before I risk harming beneficials. There may be sprays that work, but that protective shell on the JBs keep them safer from some insecticides.

Kaolin clay sprayed on your veggies will help to keep them from the beetles and are totally safe for you to harvest with just a good washing to get the clay off. The JBs -- and most other insects -- will not eat through the clay coating to get to the leaves and so will leave your plants alone.

I have found that JBs may prefer some things (grapes, roses, beans, etc) but will eat anything. I've found them chewing some where on every plant I have except my Asian pears and Korean lilac. If I were a scientist, I'd be looking into what Asian plants have done to protect themselves from JBs and develop a solution for ridding the US of them. Alas, all I can do it comment.

Not sure what else I can add. I've been waging war on these buggers for years. They are finally declining in numbers since that dreadful year I learned about the hazard of setting JB traps.

Anyone and everyone else with strategies for total elimination please post here.

 

[Smart Red]

I haven't had a serious problem with stripped Colorado beetles in a couple of decades, but do see a dozen or so every year. I hand pick what I see.

Two years ago I must have missed a mating pair, because I spotted the larval stage on my potatoes. I let a few chicken into that part of the garden one day and the problem was solved. I haven't messed with what works so that's my line of defense against potato beetles.

 

[Mary Catherine Williamson]

Is there anyway for me to prevent the grubs from emerging this late in the game? Thank for the help! I will for sure be feeding them to the chickens if I cant prevent it

MC

 

[Smart Red]

JBs lay their eggs in holes in the ground. When the eggs hatch, the grubs begin eating at the roots of plants -- mostly in grassy areas. Come spring, the grubs turn into beetles. You will never see grubs emerging from the ground only JBs which crawl out and fly to plants with the two-fold goal of eating and mating.

Cover your whole property with plastic? Seriously, I don't know how you could stop them from emerging this June. Spreading a layer of DE over your whole property probably wouldn't even be effective. DE needs to reach the tender body underneath the wings and JBs coming up from the ground wouldn't have their wings spread.

I suppose laying concrete or asphalt over the whole of your property and gardening in containers might keep your JBs from being a bother, but realize that all your neighbors will be sharing JB with you as well.

Nope! Other than the MILKY SPORE that I use, and/or convincing "neighbors" a distance from me to put up traps, there's nothing that I know of that will insure no JBs. Sorry! If I hear of a way, I'll be sure to share it and try it myself! I HATE those damaging things!

On the plus side, I seldom have a problem with JBs on my blueberries. With my acreage, there are so many other goodies for JBs to be eating that the blueberries are safe.

 

[Carol Dee]

THANK YOU @Smart Red Great answers. I really need to beget some milky spore. The numbers seemed lower last summer than the one before. So fingers crossed that it is the same this year.

 

[Smart Red]

I do think their numbers tend to fluctuate in cycles. Last year had a bit fewer for me as well. Whether it was from the Milky Spore, my steady vigilance in picking them, or the cold winter I can't tell.

I am hoping that the very early freezing temps of October caught a lot of the grubs unprepared and did them in. As you might be able to tell, I've spent a bit of time and study on these pests. If I could, I'd send them all back to Japan. Next choice is to eradicate them from South-est, central-est Wisconsin (and down into Iowa).

 

[Carol Dee]

I do think their numbers tend to fluctuate in cycles. Last year had a bit fewer for me as well. Whether it was from the Milky Spore, my steady vigilance in picking them, or the cold winter I can't tell.

I am hoping that the very early freezing temps of October caught a lot of the grubs unprepared and did them in. As you might be able to tell, I've spent a bit of time and study on these pests. If I could, I'd send them all back to Japan. Next choice is to eradicate them from South-est, central-est Wisconsin (and down into Iowa).

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

 

[Mary Catherine Williamson]

Thank you very much!