The JBs are here! The JBs are here!

[so lucky]

Saw the first Japanese Beetle in the grass yesterday. Today they are all over the place. I knocked 8 off one rose blossom this morning.
I am hesitating to put out a Japanese Beetle trap, as it seems to me they attract more beetles to the yard. (On the other hand, I did save and freeze two gallons of beetles last summer, and fed them to the chickens way up in the winter.) Oh heck, now I gotta make a decision.

 

[digitS']

Those things must be very mobile!

That trapping issue is one I have with planting a "trap crop" for things like flea beetles and potato bugs. I'm not trying to increase their numbers! I can see luring in all within a quarter mile and then blasting 'em!

When I was a kid, the neighbors would set out yellow jacket traps. There seemed to be far more of those wasps in their yard than ours but ... I don't know.

Would sprays be effective? The JB sounds like bad news.

Steve

 

[canesisters]

I'm with ya!! They're tearing up my roses too!!! And like yall, I was debating about putting up traps....
Has anyone had any luck decreasing their numbers by putting traps WAY away from the gardens - like out in the field next door (my pasture)?

 

[so lucky]

They are variable in what they choose to eat. Some roses they devour. Some they practically ignore. In the past, I haven't had a whole lot of problem with them eating my garden, but I am going to be on guard.
A couple years I was squishing them with my finger and thumb, on the roses, when I grabbed one that buzzed like a bee. It was a bee! I turned him loose, and he gratefully flew away. Not as grateful as I was!

 

[Carol Dee]

So far so good. No JB sittings. But they could be here soon. I have seen studies that show having the traps in or near your yard will bring MORE to the area. Getting out early or at dusk and knocking then into a pail of soapy water works. But walking between 6 foot tall bean plants and knocking them onto ME was not my idea of fun or effective~ Actually, them seem to be slowly declining in number each summer. I hope so.

 

[baymule]

I am reaching in the dark recesses of my feeble brain.......it's a looooong trip! I seem to remember reading in an organic magazine once to catch the bugs that are eating your garden and run them through a blender with water so they would liquidfy. Then strain and use the bug juice to spray the plants they are eating. It said it would repel the bugs. I have never done it because I never had enough bad bugs to catch and run them through the blender.

 

[Carol Dee]

@baymule Ugh... And remind me to never BUG you!

 

[canesisters]

....or to go to Bay's for smoothies.....

 

[baymule]

Oh, where is your garden adventure spirit?

 

[JimWWhite]

Saw the first Japanese Beetle in the grass yesterday. Today they are all over the place. I knocked 8 off one rose blossom this morning.
I am hesitating to put out a Japanese Beetle trap, as it seems to me they attract more beetles to the yard. (On the other hand, I did save and freeze two gallons of beetles last summer, and fed them to the chickens way up in the winter.) Oh heck, now I gotta make a decision.

No, no... don't put out JB traps in your yard. Go buy six or eight of them and give one or two each to you neighbors and tell them you got them at a yard sale for like nothing. Offer to set them out for them making sure you put them as far away from your yard as you can. Just make sure the ones you give them to live at least 100 yards away. Then sit back and within a day or two you won't see a JB anywhere in your yard or garden. Works every time.