THE Japanese Beetle Thread (merged)

Roy

Jbs are literally destroying my cherry, plum, and peach trees. I;;ve picked them off and killed them by hand, I've even tried spraying pesticide on the trees. The poison only attenuates them somewhat. Just in the last two weeks or so.
However they seem to be leaving my blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and corn alone. So far.

Nothing has worked to combat these little creatures WRT my fruit trees. That's a shame. I figure I'll just keep planting more fruit trees each year and hopefully find some varieties that are resistant or not palatable to these evil little insects.

Heineken

Heineken

Ludi

That's very encouraging to see there are birds who prey on JBs. Might one strategy be to improve bird habitat near the orchard? Reduce lawn areas and increase shrubbery?
We have vast numbers of pests here; grasshoppers,caterpillars, the trees are full of katydids, but, with such an active bird population, I don't see any significant damage except on a limited number of specific plants (Gulf frittilaries ate my passion vines this year; sucking bugs damaged the peaches and plums). I know JBs are worse than any other pests, but, maybe encouraging birds could help some...
_________________
"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

Heineken

Certainly, birds should be encouraged for that reason and so many others . . .
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Commanding_Heights · Heavy Crude Joined: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 125

Something I've found that works very well is a dead beetle spray. I also live in a very infested area and do the following which dramatically cuts down on their infestation:
1 - Get a bunch of JB's
2 - Get an old blender at a garage sale
3 - Put JB's and water in blender
4 - Press puree button and smile
5 - Take puree and put in a hose end sprayer
6 - Set to 1.5 oz per gallon
7 - Spray all over plants
Something about the smell of other dead rotting beetles they just don't like. BTW this also works well with cucumber beetles.

Heineken

I have heard of this method, Heights, but haven't tried it yet. Perhaps I should give it a shot on an experimental basis, although I have to tell you that I'm dubious about its efficacy or practicality. It sounds labor-intensive and impractical for people with lots of fruit trees, especially fruit trees that the garden hose will not reach.

JBs leave a chemical scent that attracts other beetles to the plants they're eating. Wouldn't spraying JB "puree" on plants just lay that scent on thick and heavy?
What happens when it rains? Doesn't the rain just wash off the puree? And then either the JBs return or you have to go through the whole rigamarole again.
Can you cite an authoritative source for this method of control?

It seems to me that if this method worked as well as you think it works, it would be more widely known and there would be products on the market that exploited it.
If you say it has worked for you, I'm certainly willing to give you the benefit of the doubt and to give the method a trial.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Ludi

"Use of Liquefied Pest Sprays

Jeff Cox, an editor of Rodale'sOrganic Gardening, called attention to this method of pest control in the magazine in October 1976 and again in May 1977. Insect pests or slugs are gathered in small quantities and liquefied with a little water in a blender. The material is then further diluted with water and sprayed throughout the infested area. It is not known why spraying with "bug juice" is effective against pests. However, it is known that virtually all organisms harbor viruses. Thus, it has been theorized that even the inactive viruses carried by healthy insects and slugs may somehow be activated in the process of liquefaction. The viruses would be spread throughout an entire yard or farm if all parts of the area were sprayed. Most viruses are highly specific, generally attacking a single species of organism. M. Sipe, a Florida entomologist who recommended the "bug juice" technique, also suggested that the odor of the liquefied insects possibly attracts their predators and parasites or that the insects' distress pheromones (naturally produced insect chemicals that influence sexual or other behavior) are released by the blender, with the pheromones acting as an insect repellent. Possibly the observed effects of spraying "bug juice" are the result of a combination of viruses, predator attraction, and repellent pheromones. Sipe warns that a person who tries this method of pest control should take care to use only pest species and only those that are doing significant damage. Failure to heed this warning could disrupt the activities of the natural predators and other natural controls present. This approach needs extended testing and investigation of its safety for use by humans, but test results over the past twenty years in various areas of North America have yielded impressive results with no evidence of harm to either humans or beneficial organisms."

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072528427/student_view0/biological_controls.html
_________________
"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

Commanding_Heights · Heavy Crude Joined: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 125

I got the idea from the book "Dead Daisies Make Me Crazy: Garden Solutions Without Chemical Pollution".
As far as work goes, it's not much more labor intensive than any other spray end application in the garden. I just have to collect JB's in soapy water and blend them. It takes 10 minutes max. I didn't mean to imply you have to collect hundereds and hundreds of them. I usually just collect 30-40 or so.

But then again we may be talking about two different size operations. I simply have 8 fruit/nut trees and 10 12x3 raised beds. Yours may be much bigger.
As soon as I see the little buggers start to collect on the trees and garden again I just make up another batch and spray. To be honest I just haven't paid much attention to whether the rain has a big impact or not.

Heineken

I'll try it out. I'm willing to try anything. Some of my plants are out of reach of the garden hose. I'll try filtering out the solid JB particles through a coffee filter, and using the diluted "juice" in a regular pump-action sprayer, which I'd prefer to the garden-hose method anyway.
Does anyone else have any experience with this method of JB control?
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Ludi

How have you fared with milky spore disease as a control? Has it helped at all?
_________________
"...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow..." - jboogy

Commanding_Heights · Heavy Crude Joined: Nov 09, 2006 Posts: 125

Milky spore takes several years to be effective. It works great on the property where it is applied but the problem is these JB's can fly several miles Sad

Heineken

Consensus opinion on milky spore has slowly turned against it---that it isn't worth the time, expense, and effort. I read that earlier this year from some sort of authortitative source (possibly a university or state extension service). The main reason is the one Commanding Heights gives. An adult JB can fly at least five miles. This renders environmental-type controls on your own property more or less worthless, especially if you have a large property. I see vast numbers of JBs in uncultivated fields and even in mostly wooded areas---they don't draw any distinction between your property and the rest of the world.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother

Heineken

Heineken

I regret to report that neither mulberries nor paw paws are immune to JBs. No serious damage, but holes are made in leaves (paw paws) or selected leaves and berries are destroyed (mulberries). Goumis are also not invulnerable. Again, though, the damage is only light to moderate.

The only truly JB-proof food plants I have are tomatoes and especially figs. You see JBs on them, but no damage is done (although JBs may eat a few tomato flowers).
Heartnuts may be invulnerable. I see a few JBs on them but there's no sign, so far, of any active feeding.
_________________
"Actually, humans died out long ago."
---Abused, abandoned hunting dog

"Things have entered a stage where the only change that is possible is for things to get worse."
---Me and my brother