Detailed information on Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)

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FlowerSue

Overland Park, KS (Zone 6a) | May 2020 | Negative

I find that Japanese beetles attack only one plant in my vegetable garden, my pole beans. The go to the top of the pole where the new leaves are and chew the leaves. I can't remember now if they munch the beans themselves, but I grow Violetta Triofino pole beans (the beans are purple, but the leaves are green). I can knock them off into a pan of water or capture them by hand and put them in alcohol or gasoline in a large mayonnaise jar.
Interesting that it is the only plant they attack, and I grow Tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, Peppers, Kale, carrots, and several other vegetables. But they only attack my pole beans. Knock on wood they will be fewer this coming year. I have heard that using traps is not a good idea because they just attract more beetles. It works for me to c... read more

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Meenchen

| July 2018 | Negative

Never saw one until we moved from 5b to 6b. They ate the grape leaves, rose buds and flowers and bean leaves. There were mass beetle orgies in my rose flowers. The traps that were set up were filled to the brim - daily. Apparently, their only natural enemy was the starling. Starlings are rare nowadays because the fruit farmers around here.....well.....Anyway, last year to my delight, a new natural enemy appeared - the sparrows were going after them. The Japanese beetle population is now under control. It took 15 years.

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pixilated

Hazel Green, AL (Zone 7a) | April 2018 | Negative

I hate these little creatures. They ate up everything I loved, stone fruits, berry vines, roses, rose of sharon, you name it.

However, I have discovered the best time to catch them is early in the AM while the air is still cool. They are sluggish then. I fill a small bucket with about 5 inches of water and then hold it underneath while I just touch the branches they are on. They drop into the water immediately. Then I take the bucket over to my chickens and they come running! They know what that bucket means and not even ONE of them escapes!

For the stone fruits, same time in the AM, but I take the chickens with me. I shake the branches and down they come like rain! Again, none escape the chickens. This is my no chemical way of keeping their numbers d... read more

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rpj60

Kansas City, MO | October 2016 | Neutral

I was badly infested this past summer. Spectracide has a bag trap that lures them with a scent. It works unbelievably. Was carried at Walmart and amazon. Has additional stand not needed. Comes with 2 bags. If your infection is noticable get extra bags. Bags are reusable but for a limited number of uses. They are very odorous as they die. Follow instructions. Were on plum and 1 apple and 2 cherry trees. As well as grapes, okra and eggplant. swarms of them

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RobertCrandall

Capac, MI | November 2015 | Negative

This is the worst year we have ever had with these bugs. We have a few hundred Fruit trees and the do minor damage to them. However the young trees, mainly the plum trees can get stripped of every leaf in one day. My wife and I take turns walking around with a spritz bottle of soap. I did an experiment this year and put heavy amounts of Grub-ex under some of the grapes. The ones that had the Grub-ex did much better than the others. They seem to be lazy and go for the grapes right where they come out of the ground so I will be using more next spring.

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Sequoiadendron4

Lititz, PA (Zone 6b) | July 2015 | Negative

Much like everyone else here, JB's are horrible creatures that should all be put to death. In our area, they usually start the 3rd week of June and persist for about 8 weeks. They are major problems on these plants every year in our yard: Viburnum plicatum 'Summer Snowflake' (they eat the flowers), Rose of Sharon (flowers), Knockout Rose Cream colored (flowers), dahlias of any kind (flowers) and Malva zebrina. They are pests of these plants but not consistently from year to year or occasional pests every year: Katsura Tree, Dawn Redwood, Golden Chain Tree, Photinia villosa, Crape Myrtle (flowers), Amalanchier alnifolia, Aronia arbutifolia and melanocarpa, Pyracantha, and Shasta daisy. That's all I can think of for now. I would not recommend using a systemic against them as birds do e... read more

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creash

Logansport, IN | April 2013 | Negative

Some years are much worse than others where I live. With most pests, there are completely nonchemical things that can be done to get rid of them. I don't use any chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, only completely natural methods. However, these little buggers defy virtually every method I attempt on them. Any ideas?

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rosada

Cedar Falls, IA (Zone 4b) | January 2012 | Neutral

This may help some with smaller gardens....
1.) place a white bucket or milk jug with water in it and ripe fruit like banana peels and mango in it as a lure under favorite shrub or tree. Beetles can't fly out of the milk jug once inside but add a small amount of dish soap to an open white bucket. These won't draw beetles from miles around like the pheromone traps do.
or
2.)One of the Universities recommended [instead of using commercial pheromone traps which draw in more beetles than they can kill] to place a pheromone trap "over" a basin filled with soapy water with a "white bottom". [use a white plastic bag to line the basin] .Some people said the pools fill with beetles which drown in the soap. Only problem with this second method is it will draw Japanese Beetles in... read more

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julietomblin

Ashton, IL | September 2011 | Negative

yes these bugs have destroyed my marigolds. the neighbor who grows roses from across the street put out those bags and she was filling them twice a day. i didnt start seeing them until those bags were put out and now i dont have a single bloom left. im hoping next year that they stay away.

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pinochio

Hampshire, IL (Zone 5a) | September 2011 | Negative

Can anyone give me suggestions on how to get rid of these. Every year they devour my cherry tree, roses, berry bushes, and all trees around, even my butterfly bush. I am trying to stay chemical free in my yard, but I'm at wits end. I have never hated any bug like these. I will do any thing to destroy them. They couldn't possibly be good for anything.

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KayMN

Robbinsdale, MN | July 2011 | Negative

My "thundercloud purple leaf plum" tree is covered with these nasty little beetles! I have 2 of these trees! The trees are only 2 years old so they are small enough to maybe manage for now. They have chewed through nearly 1/2 of the leaves.

I gave these little guys a nice morning bath in my soap pail. I got maybe 200 of them in about 15 minutes. I'm trying to stay away from the chemicals. I feel better knowing that I put some to rest.

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greenbike7

Fortson, GA | June 2010 | Positive

I have used everything they make, and then I found " Bayer" it's a systemic you treat the ground with before they come out, grant it I have alot of areas and cannot use it everywhere, but in my beds that they can strip in one day I use it and the bag a bugs work great around other areas. This year I found they no longer make the bags, it's a green plastic cylinder with the same yellow holder for the scent but these are so much better as they have holes and let the rain out and not as much of a smell!! Put at least 10ft. from plants as they will be drawn to it instead of the plant. Now you will still find some on plants but if you could only see how many bugs are in 5 bag a bug containers you wouldn't believe!!

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SkyWolf07

Meridianville, AL | May 2010 | Negative

I HATE these nasty little things. They may be pretty, but they killed my 2 beautiful Japanese Plum trees almost overnight.

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rabbitsdiner

Carmel, IN | May 2010 | Negative

I kill grubs in the ground, but they just fly in from elsewhere. I use systemic insectide granules on my roses. It works wonderfully for the foliage, but not the blooms. Picking them off is helpful at some times, but hopeless when they really infest. I cut some flowers at budstage and bring them inside to enjoy. The rose'The Fawn' doesn't get attacked quite as badly as most of the others. 'Double Knock' out does very well.

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belston23

Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4a) | March 2010 | Negative

This Nasty little creature has destroyed my beans. I have learned to NOT use the trap. It only makes it worse. The only thing I could do is try to kill them individually when I saw them on the plant. I pick them off individually and crush them, or when there are a lot of them, I get a container of water with some dish soap and just nock them into the container and let them drown. They turned my leaves into spider webs.

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stormyla

Norristown, PA (Zone 6b) | October 2009 | Negative

For years we've had horrible infestations of these beetles. Last fall I applied Milky Spore to the entire property and also drenched beneficial nematodes into the soil. This year there were virtually no beetles here and I thought that the treatments had been effective. That is, until friends who did nothing to their properties told me that they had no beetles this year either.

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Gardenobsessed

Ithaca, NY | July 2009 | Negative

Last year, 2008 was HORRIBLE. These critters are really the bane of one's existence. I gave up last year. Here in
Ithaca, NY, you can start looking out for them about June 30, but they tend to disappear by the second week of Aug. I hear milky spore really works, but you have to give it 3-4 years. I guess the multi-pronged approach is the best answer ...and pray real hard that they will have mercy on us.

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mommy2

Diamond, OH | July 2009 | Negative

I dont know what to do...i am afraid to use chemicals in my yard because i have 2 young children & 2 dogs...i use the beetle bug traps...the ones with the bags and the little disc that draws them in and it worked great last summer but this summer it doesnt seem to be helping at all....i cant take the kids outside because they swarm them and the dogs. We cant even use the pool, play in the sand box or on the swingset....its horrible....any suggestions or anyone know how long before these things go away!!!??

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Ed_the_Merlin

Ballwin, MO | July 2009 | Neutral

I have battled this little bugger for years and have found that the traps work the best in conjucnction with spraying. So far this year, actually a week or so since they appeared I have bagged over ten quarts of them. My flowers have been virtually untouched. It doesn't matter where they come from or if I'm attracting them...if they go into the trap that's less to lay eggs and produce more larvae. I just ordered two more. Fresh bait works the best each year. I tried Milky Spore years ago and it was ust a waste of money...IMHO.

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firefly_in_nh

Deerfield, NH (Zone 5b) | May 2009 | Negative

I've lived in my current home only a year, and last summer the Japanese Beetles weren't too bad, only damaging the blackberries and some of my roses. I'm not sure how useful this tip is for most people but my Jack Russell Terrier loves the critters and eats them by the hundreds! I let her loose in my rose garden and she stripped them bare. She patrols the lawn religiously and devours any beetle she finds, and in fact if I call her over to "find the bugs", she knows exactly what she's looking for!

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LadyAshleyR

Oakland, MD | January 2009 | Negative

This is an introduced species that has become a real pest.
They eat up practically everything.
If you have them, I suggest stopping by your local walmart, and buying some hormone traps.
The beetles fly into them, and can't get back out.
Just make sure you dont leave them up for too long, or the beetles will chew through the bottom, and get out.
Either that, or empty your bag, and find a way of disposing of the beetles, without any of them flying away.

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DMgardener

(Daniel) Mount Orab, OH (Zone 6b) | January 2009 | Negative

This is NASTY!!! Fortunatly, the yearly invasion only lasts 1 month. And that month is June. The month EVERY plant is making exellent growth on leaves and flowers. And they make EVERY thing look like MESH!!!!!!!!:( :(

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PinkysPlants

Thomasboro, IL (Zone 5b) | August 2008 | Negative

These guys are my #1 enemy!!

These guys eat my plants ragged every year! They have destroyed clematis, roses, butterfly weed, bee balm, you name it!!!

And they fly into you while you are working outdoors too!!

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crimsontsavo

Crossville, TN (Zone 7a) | August 2008 | Negative

They drenched our property last year (MILLIONS). Not as bad this year...but i haven't seen a fully opened althea bloom this year because of them.

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bradysgrama

Morrison, IL | August 2008 | Negative

This year has been just awful in our part of Illinois for the Japanese Beetles. There has got to be a soapy mixture to kill them but no one seems to have the correct mixing. I know Lemon Dish soap and water but do not know the right amounts. Does anyone have that information for me cause I refuse to use chemicals. Also, I went to pick off a dead moss rose and here a Japanese beetle was imbedded in it chomping away. I am about to get rid of all my beautifu l flowers and use decorative rock instead. Let them little buggies chomp on those. They are also devouring my petunias if the flower part is laying on a bush, otherwise, they are leaving them alone. Can anyone tell me why that is? Also, some tiny little caterpillar not even an inch long was on my hanging planters (begonias) and ... read more

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Lauren_Byron

Byron, IL | July 2008 | Negative

Hi,
I'm new here..... we are having another bad year with JB's. They were so bad last year..... they almost killed our cherry tree, I think their back to finish the job and to take the apple trees with it.

I am thinking about the pressure washer and also "House Wash". They say it doesn't hurt the plants around the house, so I thought I would power wash the JB's.

I thought about a mixing different oils and pepper, but I have to research on dog safety. I have a handful of large dogs that love eating grass and dirt...... so that's a major concern for me. They have a product that you pour around the roots of the tree and the tree absorbs the chemical and the JB's supposedly won't eat from the tree...... but it takes about 4 bottles per tree, depending... read more

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Bookerc1

Mackinaw, IL (Zone 5a) | July 2008 | Negative

Awful things, they eat everything! They started on the blackberries, and moved on to the roses, dahlias, yarrow, phlox, and vegetable garden.

My BIL has a too-true saying about them: where one is feeding, two are breeding. This year is the worst I've seen!

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Cheryl_103

Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6a) | July 2008 | Negative

This is my garden's third year, but the first I've ever seen JP's. They eating all of my purple coneflower petals!! They also seem to like the cilantro flowers.
I've noticed a lot of honey bees on the coneflowers, so I dont' want to use Sevin.
I'll try the Bag-a-Bug & also knocking them into soapy water.
We've got lots of birds, but they seem much more interested in my lawn than my flower garden.

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lmbs19

Wales, MA | July 2008 | Neutral

I have thousands of these bugs in my yards every day, I have tried Seven nope nothing its like they like the stuff, the only thing killing them is my pool, which my boys should be swimming in but we can not go out amnd enjoy our yard, my garden needs to be weeded whats peft of it. what can I do ? HELP

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YangMetalRat

Frederick, MD (Zone 6b) | July 2007 | Negative

This is my 3rd summer tending my garden and the 1st summer that the JBs have not ravaged everything from roses to cosmos to yarrow. In fact, they're so few in number now that it's tempting to forget about them - but I continue to dispatch every one that I find! I've not known whether to attribute the low numbers to unfavorable weather conditions for the grubs in the last year (were they? I've no idea what the grubs need) or to my eradication efforts last year and my ongoing obsession with killing every grub I came across in the course of removing the lawn and digging and planting a cottage garden. (I fed every grub to my birds - yum!) I applied milky spore to my garden in March this year, though my nurseryman told me that m/s is most effective in the period after the eggs hatch and the... read more

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huggle002

Fort Edward, NY (Zone 5a) | July 2007 | Negative

UUGGH-Went away for 2 days-came home to a once stunning clawfoot bathtub FULL of Calla liles reduced to shreds by these nasty creatures.

They went to work on a number of my roses too. They are everywhere in my garden now....I have just sprayed all of my Callas and roses with Sevin.

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daistuff

Cary, IL (Zone 5a) | July 2007 | Negative

They are eating my new dogwood and pear trees, along with my roses. I've been picking and drowning in soapy water since my yard is small. They're easy (and fun?!?) to pick. They either drop to the ground as soon as they see you, or they plant one sticky leg on the leaf and hang on for dear life. So I hold my bowl of soapy water under the leaf and usually the fools just slide right in. If they choose to clamp on, I cut the leaf off and push them into the water with my clippers. My son loves to count how many soapy beetles are wiggling in the cup. I've gotten dozens, and this morning I couldn't find a single one to catch. I must admit, I was a little disappointed (LOL).

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roziebudzz2

Dundee, IL | July 2007 | Negative

Where did these things come from. I never saw so many and they are having a feast on everything in my garden. I'am in a new home of only 3 yrs. and trying to get my garden established and these guys are eating everything in site. The odd thing is we had the grub control put down for the first time (just in case) this year and I have thousands of beetles. Now What do I do besides spray till I'am blue in the face?

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Mrs_Mac

Athens, AL (Zone 7b) | July 2007 | Neutral

The beetles have arrived in Alabama also. My Newport Plum tree's leaves look like lace. The JBs also LOVE crape myrtles and between the tree and the myrtles, they mostly leave our other plants alone. I spray Sevin dust on the plum tree only and pick bugs off the rest of the plants since I feed lots of birds.

We tried two of the traps a couple of years ago and I must say that they provided fun for the entire family. Every evening, we would all go out to see how many JBs we had. In a day's time, the bags were so full that the weight would pull the bag down to the ground. And all the beetles were crazy for love!

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lbveas

Whitmore Lake, MI | July 2007 | Neutral

I've used GrubX with good results on a city lawn in the past. Now I live on 3 acres and had severe damage from these miserable @##!!*@#! on roses, day lilies, red bud trees, maple tree, apple trees and especially raspberries and other plants as well. I used beetle traps but felt they attracted more than they trapped. Our Extension office and Master Gardener instructor recommended against using them unless you could locate them in your neighbors yard. Last July I applied grubX to as large an area as I could afford. Also not using traps this year. So far beetle activity is very low in the areas that had GrubX applied. I spray with Sevin weekly and started as soon as I saw the first beetle. Also hand pick them and drop them in soapy water. I will try the soapy water spray. I fear th... read more

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nursery4u

Liberty, NC (Zone 7b) | July 2007 | Positive

Yes, like everyone else, the beetles have invaded en masse'. Last year was our first experience with them, having moved the nursery up from Florida (that has every other bug in the world... except these), and we were surprised how selective they seemed to be... but they did cause an incredible amount of damage.

We learned from last year, and to our surprise, they have hit almost everything in the beds and containers, even oaks and some of the conifers...

We have a large bird and frog population, and try not to use too many chemicals, so we have a control strategy for the invaders. Our strategy is firstly to squish them as we patrol the grounds. Then when there are concentrations of beetles, we spot-spray with a mix of Sevin and Malathion. The Sevin works well,... read more

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lee_ro

Raleigh, NC | June 2007 | Negative

They're here. The awful insects have arrived to munch on Raleigh NC, harkening the impending summer season and battling me as I fight for the salvation of my beautiful hardy hibiscus. I have many different plants in my garden, but for whatever reason they love to destroy my very favorite hibiscus plant. Last year (my 2nd yr tending to my current garden) they also attacked my climbing hydrangea, completly skeletonizing it before I finally broke down and sprayed Sevin on it (the only chemicals I had used thus far in my modest, though lovely, garden had been some occasional Miracle Grow). Before the Sevin I had tried the beetle traps but they weren't working quickly enough. The awful JBs left instantly as soon as the Sevin was introduced, though my Climbing Hydrangea was pretty much done... read more

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Valsrich

Flowery Branch, GA | June 2007 | Neutral

I moved to Gainesville, GA in 1971. I had never seen a JB before then. I was amazed! Anyway, I had been getting Organic Garden magazine and I saw an ad for Milky Spore. Folkes, this is the answer to your problems. In those days I was quite broke and so I could only buy a little bit. But I placed it as far as I could go and I used a larger grid than was recommended. The first year there was not much difference. However, 25 years later that property was JB free! Also, something else I have noted. When I moved to my present property I brought several plants with me. I have not had a JB invasion yet, altho I do notice a few here and there. Don't worry about your neighbors buying it. It will spread. Not fast, but it will spread. Let's face it, just how fast can a little grub travel underground.... read more

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k_saintlouis

| June 2007 | Negative

in 3 days, my zelkova went from spectacular to awful! hello JBs. they haven't moved to the little-leafed lindens yet...if only i could stay home from work! EVERYTHING can change in a single day! has anybody tried systemic treatments for plants too large to hand pick? in my 100-year old house, my water pressure won't even allow me to get sevin up to the top where the critters are hanging out. our botanical garden says NEVER introduce traps, but what about other, smaller plants that will lure them down so i can hand pick them off - any suggestions? local horticulturalists have also told me that eliminating grubs is a tiny step as the beetles have been known to move up to a mile in a day for the tastest treats ... my trees!!

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scherry21

Morrow, OH | May 2007 | Negative

I hate these bugs! They eat the leaves off my plants
I was able to kill some of them by knocking them into a jar of soapy water and they drowned immediately but they are hard to keep up with.

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mscheinost

Henderson, KY (Zone 6a) | April 2007 | Neutral

I have had major problems with this one. Last year was the first year I got any nectarines. I reached up for one and got a hand full of JB's. I have done the Milky Spore thing, but it is expensive, especially for a large area. It is suppose to be put down three seperate times, for two years. My understanding is that it takes a couple of years for it to really establish.

This year I'm going to try and cover the fruit trees with floating "row cover" to keep them off during fruiting. I guess they aren't suppose to be able to climb up under the netting. We'll see.

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pmgflowers

Decatur, GA (Zone 7b) | April 2007 | Negative

Encountered this Evil Creature for the first time in July 2005, munching my crape myrtles. After googling, fixed soapy solution in a large yogurt container and spent the next week-10 days going out multiple times a day and knocking every one I could find into the soup (hundreds by the time it was over). Trees were young enough I could still reach nearly to the top, and I got very good at sneaking up on the Evil Creatures. (I work from home, and some days it doesn't take much justify taking a break.) With trepidation, set out a couple of the bag traps also, and caught hundreds. When there was a breeze, I saw fewer beetles in the trees and more in the traps; I'd been worried that the traps would just pull in more from surrounding n'hood, but don't think that happened. Patrolled the rest of t... read more

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IAJo

Peosta, IA (Zone 4b) | March 2007 | Negative

This is the most horrible, destructive bug ever! They were even attacking my blue spruce, black spruce and arborvitae! The only thing I have not had eaten by them was the leaves on our 2 oak trees. Every pesticide that will kill them, washes off in rain or dew dilutes it so it is very expensive due to constant reapplications. These nasty insects appear to come in droves from the soybean fields of farmers to the south of our home, starting in late June and are here until after the 1st hard frost. I read that you are suppose to apply nemotodes and milky spore to your lawn in early spring before the grass turns green to kill there eggs and larvae, so I am going to try it this spring. Will keep you posted on wether it works or not.

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valliebeth17

Crown Point, NY (Zone 4b) | February 2007 | Negative

JB have been a plague in my gardens my entire life. They seem particularly fond of roses, raspberries, hollyhocks and grape vines. Last years my grandfather used Sevin on his raspberries, and found exactly two beetles in the entire patch the whole year. I intend to use Sevin on my roses this year.

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LostIndian

Algonac, MI | August 2006 | Neutral

I have some kind of yellow wild flowers growing next to some kind of hedge bush, of which, the JBs severely attacked the flowers leaves. I did nothing to stop them and that is the only plant which was attacked. This may be due to the rapid expanse of the wild flowers and the vast amount of leaves available. Maybe the critters ate themselves to death. I haven't seen any in two-three weeks.
I like the idea of a "bird garden". In fact, we have had so many Robins and Blue Jays around this year, they may be the solution of the JB problem. Me thinks me will place a couple of bird baths out to intice more birds next year.

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rathkyle

Oneida, NY (Zone 5a) | August 2006 | Neutral

I have been waging warfare on Japanese Beetles for years now. They are the BIGGEST problem in my garden ... mostly because I have a ton of roses. They also love other plants as well and have been feasting lately on my Canna Lilly plants.

I have tried beetle bags in the past, but it made the problem MUCH worse. I have been told by other gardeners and have read on other web sites that these bags cause more of a problem than they solve, however, some people have much luck with them. I don't recommend them though.

I have also tried chemical sprays and more environmentally friendly sprays, They work for a short time, but still the beetles come. I have also tried grub killers in my lawn in both fall and spring. I believe it has helped somewhat, but they are s... read more

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audreyannewert

Athol, MA | August 2006 | Negative

These creatures have chomped on everything in my yard. In the past, I've had them only on rose bushes but this year it's been everything from corn to new sugar maples. It's impossible to treat everything with sevin. Is there a certain weather condition that makes the infestation worse, such as alot of rain?

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Jax4ever

Boxford, MA (Zone 6a) | August 2006 | Negative

The biggest mistake I ever made was to purchase a Japanese Beetle trap, the kind that uses a sex lure bag. Before the trap, I only had a few beetles... when I got the trap, even though I set it over 60 feet from the garden, I had an infestation times ten! Beware!! I hand-picked the beetles for the next two seasons, and I have not seen one this year. I grow a very bird-friendly garden, and I believe Robins and Phoebees are killing the rest.

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RichInNC

Winterville, NC | August 2006 | Negative

I have successfully killed the beatle by spraying a
liquid solution of Sevin on all my flowers,
shrubs and trees.

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lemmons75

Rock Hill, SC | August 2006 | Negative

I myself have a dealing with this nasty bugs.It started with my stawberrys and moved to my cosmos and anything else it could get its mouth on.I put up two beattle bags up about a month apart with some releaf, but they still ate on my flowers.I haven't seen any of them in a couple of weeks now so I hope the little leaf eating bugs have moved on.

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patmac555

Hamburg, NY (Zone 5a) | August 2006 | Negative

I have a Harry Lauder Walking Stick (Twisted Filbert) and the JB's invaded the plant and I used a pan with soap mixture and flicked them off and they died. Worked well but later on I had to spray the plant with Sevin just to make sure.
The walking stick is a focal point in my garden and I just didn't want to lose it to the bettles..... They were very proliferous this year, even attacked the roses and I used the same technique..... I learned this technique from the Home Extension Service...in that they don't really advocate the use of pesticides.
I love to see what you all write on different subjects it really is informative. Thanks, patmac555

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TheHeff

Cedar Rapids, IA | August 2006 | Negative

These bugs have destryed my hollyhocks and hardy hibiscusplants along with the roses. Unfortunatly this has been determined to be the worst infestaion of japanese beetles yet. I don't think that there is really anything that can get rid of them completely. I have atleast 20 of these bugs on 1 flower.

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UziMike

Reynoldsburg, OH (Zone 6a) | August 2006 | Neutral

I have found using a systemic treatment like the Bayer 3 and 1 product works. Out of 11 rose bushes, I found two one day and then were gone/never to return the next day. Then I found only one leaf of a rose bush with typical JB type damage, but then never noticed any other damage. I know they are in the area still but I effectively have them to stay away or die, if they come around my gardens.

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chicochi3

Fayetteville, AR (Zone 6b) | July 2006 | Negative

These horrible little creatures eat--no devour--my favorite plants for two months out of the year. Die, beetles, die!

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traceylynnf

Cement City, MI | July 2006 | Negative

This bug destroys any plant in its path!! How do you get rid of it- I hate those nasty bags that you hang up in your yard, so I just squash them when I see them.
note: August 15, 2006: I have found one thing, by accident that is really wierd, but it works! We had a large weather -resistant citronella candle lit, sitting on our deck table. The mosquitos finally chased us indoors nd I blew it out but left it sitting out on the table. The next morning it was full of dead japanese beetles, stuck in the wax. Seems they like the melty wax , land in it and can't get out! Sounds cruel but no crueler than eating my plants. I light a candle every night and the next morning there are 8-12 beetles gone; not that many, but every little bit helps.

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Julesgarden

Abingdon, MD (Zone 7a) | July 2006 | Negative

This beetle is total devastation to any garden in my area. It is so wide spread that you can not even find beetle bags in any of the stores in my area. I use the beetle bags back in the wooded part of my garden to try and keep them from my garden plants. It draws a lot of beetles because of the harmone disc w/the bag. I still have my garden eaten. The only thing my husband & I found that can help get rid of this awful beetle is to use Seven dust or spray, using insecticidal soap does not work. I hate to use chemicals, as we feed the birds & critters that come into our garden. Does anyone know of something safer I can use? I have a 1/3rd of an acre of gardens, so it is impossible to pick them off of the plants and drown them in soap. We have also used the grub insecticide in our lawn and ga... read more

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jam1

Buffalo, NY | July 2006 | Positive

Living in upstate N.Y.,I also noticed it lands on ,whitebirch and sandcherry with a appetite that won`t quit.JAM1

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mummu

Lebanon, ME (Zone 4b) | July 2006 | Negative

This is my most hated garden rival. Roses, Primroses, fruit trees, berry bushes, grapevines, asparagus ferns, they go from one to the next. I put a solution of dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle and squirt them and it kills them. They breath through their bodies and it suffocates them. I've tried treating the lawn with a grub killer, but my lawn is just too big for it to have a measurable effect.

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melody

Benton, KY (Zone 7a) | July 2006 | Negative

The adult beetle damages the leaves and fruit on more than 200 different plants. The larvae feed on roots of grasses, vegetables and nursery plants.

They travel in great numbers and can strip a garden nearly bare in just a short time

This bad bug was introduced in 1916 on iris roots from Japan.

Japanese Beetle

Popillia japonica

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