In the 80's there was a Japanese beetle trap that contained a small card at the top of the trap (I could buy refills) that had a sex hormone in it. (when I lived in Pa) It worked really well to attract them away from roses. I don't know if they still make it. You would have to dump the trap occasionally.

Hi

If by Japanese beetles your referring to Cotinis Mutabilis
That's not what's doing that to your plants
Those guy get such a bad rap

They don't eat leaved
I'd look for Caterpillars / Worms on your plants

Not Aimed At Any One / Just Saying In General And just for the record Even if you see those beetle munching on your fruit The fruit was already bad or damage / Bird picked The beetles don't have chewing mouth parts & aren't even capable of chew through thin skin like on an apple or peach They only feed on soft \- rotting \- decaying items And The grubs feed on decaying matter & don't eat fresh leaves or roots

There are a FEW different types of bugs but I am almost positive it's the beetles. There are hundreds of them. None of the other bugs are prominent in the least.

I've read the traps make the problem worse, but I am consider it. Do you think they might survive ?

That does appear to be the damage of Japanese Beetles, Popillia japonica. Deth is referring to the green fruit beetle. Deth is from California where JBs are practically nonexistent.

I thought that I recommended 'Surround ' kaolin spray earlier, but maybe not. Very effective in repelling these beetles.

Surround is an acceptable organic control as would be carefully used Neem Oil Products or pyrethrin dusts and sprays.
Neem products are Category III pest controls that require carefrul use around bees and should only be applied when bees are not around.
Pyrethrins are very broad spectrum poisons that need very careful use since they will kill off many other, and beneficial, insects.
There is some evidence that the Japanese Beetles appear to be developing immunity to Carbaryl (Sevin) due to overuse.

If I were to just continue hand picking would I still have some beans? I don't know where to get the Surround and I'm afraid it would be too late by the time I order online. Any stores that carry it?

Also, does it last long term in the bottle (could I use next year)? Any other veggies you can use it on?

Surround is a Kaolin Clay slurry that when sprayed on plants forms a barrier that many insects find hides, apparently, the target they are after. It is not a control in the sense that poisons are, it disguises the plants so the pests cannot recognize them. I have seen it available at most of the garden shops I have visited.

ocd, Surround comes as a wettable powder and has a very long shelf life when kept dry and stored in a dry (not humid) location. You mix only what you know you will spray at any one time.

I use it on many of my veggie plants, leaves AND fruit. One reason that I use it is to reflect the southern sun and reduce heat stress and sun scald. It has increased my production of tomatoes and squash just for that reason, alone! So, not only is it a physical barrier (they find the clay coating an irritant), but it minimizes the effects of the sun.

But to answer your other question...,JBs only stick around for a few weeks, a month at most. In my experience, they show up one day, wreak their havoc for three or four weeks, then they're finished.

Well I think the JBs have done me in! There are too many to hand pick. There are 100s of them. I get so depressed when I go out to the garden. I picked up some neem oil but I don't think it's even worth trying they're so bad. I'm going to call my local Southern States in the morning to see if they carry Surround. The JBs have been around for about three weeks. Is it worth putting the surround on them at this point?

My tomatoes are lovely but the sun is getting to them so maybe that'll help them to!

See the pic. Not all the leaves are this bad but it's becoming this way. Are they even worth trying to save?