They're back! The Japanese Beetles are once again attacking our aronia bushes, fruit trees, grape vines, roses, and even the rhubarb, Indian corn and “punkins.” Grrr. In years past I've gone after the beetles with a heavy duty insecticide, which is a lot of work and takes two-to-three treatments to eradicate the green-and-copper devil bugs. I don't like using an insecticide because I invariably end up getting it on me, and the insecticide also kills other insects I don't want to kill, like bees and butterflies.
Last fall I found some Japanese Beetle traps in a hardware store. The manager of the hardware store told me that the traps were very effective at controlling the Japanese Beetles. Skeptical, I thought I could at least give them a try. I bought all the traps the store had left—four.
So, when Ginnie informed me the Japanese Beetles were once again on the warpath, I proceeded to assemble the traps. I noticed that the same company that made the insecticide, also made the traps. Hmm.
As I assembled the traps in the kitchen, the kitchen door became covered by the beetles. Holy smoke, the pheromone the traps use to attract the beetles is really effective!
I placed the traps around the Empty Nest Farm and they were immediately swarmed (ha, ha) by beetles. Within hours, the bags were full of squirming, crawling, slimy Japanese beetles.
I posted a picture of the beetle-covered traps on Facebook. Immediately, someone responded with, “I want them for our chickens!”
Okay, I can accommodate. I contacted my neighbor who has chickens and she wanted some, too! In two days, I have collected seven gallons of Japanese Beetles in freezer bags and given them all away. I'm not pull'n your leg. Ask Ginnie before she goes buggy.
A few people chimed in on Facebook, saying, “All you're doing with those traps is attracting every Japanese Beetle for miles around.” I feared this to be the case. However, after two days of bagging bugs, without too much damage to foliage, the pestilence seems to have run its course. Thank you, God.
So, where do the Japanese beetles come from? A quick Google search explains Japanese beetles were accidentally introduced to the US on the roots of nursery stock from Japan for the 1916 World's Fair in San Francisco.
Do they migrate, or are they in the soil? The larvae feed on the roots of turf grasses. Feeding can be so heavy that the turf separates from the soil and can be lifted like a carpet. (I was wondering why my grass, in places, was lifting off the ground like a rug. I was blaming chipmunks.) So I'm actually raising the bugs that are attacking the Empty Nest Farm. But, the larvae can be treated, naturally or chemically. Ah, ha!
Oh, I know, there are people who say, “I just knock the Japanese beetles off the leaves with a pencil into a bucket of soapy water.” Yeah, right. All seven gallons of them!
So what's next? Well the June Bugs are starting to bang the kitchen door at night and the fireflies are flying (although I like those). Then there's boxelder bugs, or those cute little bugs that look like lady bugs, but bite—Asian lady beetles. The Bible talks about plagues of locusts, and the early settlers to the Western US were chewed up by “hoppers.” With the planet being the hottest ever and technology taking over, there might be, oh my God, AI Drones. Lord have mercy. Give me a Japanese beetle any day. At least with those I know what I'm dealing with!
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