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millie_36

Japanese Beetle report, please

21 years ago

Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I thought there were fewer of those #%*&%# JBs this morning. Any chance I am not seeing things?? Surely it must be 6 weeks by now. ;)

Comments (15)

  • 21 years ago

    I hadn't seen any but am seeing some now.Posy Pet

  • 21 years ago

    I can't tell if the numbers are starting to decline or if they're just spreading out more. I wish they'd hurry up and disappear. My cannas would look better. It seems like I find them on almost everything in my yard. In past years, I mainly found them on my crape myrtles. I've had many many more this year and didn't even try to collect them like I used to do. I had that defeated feeling and gave up. I hate to think what next year will be like. I'm sure every beetle must be laying dozens of eggs.
    I'm thinking about trying traps next year. I could put them at the back of our hayfield so it won't lure them to my yard as they say they do. If anyone sees Japanese Beetle traps marked down around the Springfield area, let me know.

  • 21 years ago

    Are they supposed to disappear? This is my first year for the rascals. I found (1) this morning on my rounds and dropped him in a coffe can of water. Of course, I have sprayed more than once with Sevin.

    I really don't know much about them. Let me know everything you can about them, please.

    gld

  • 21 years ago

    Rumor has it that the season is about 6 weeks long. I failed to note when I saw the first one, but know it was back in June. This morning I found only two per flower instead of 6 to 10, so I was hoping it might be winding down. I plan to make note of when they end and count back so I can be prepared next year.

    Christie, I just can't believe how bad they are...maybe we are in the frontlines of the invasion. I have one apple tree that looks like it's dead until you get close enough to see that the leaves are all skeletanized. Guess as far as leaves are concerned, it is dead. Grapes are all brown and in the same state. I noticed an entire small home orchard looking like that up Hwy. 39 yesterday. I am sure that some of the road side "brown" I am seeing is beetle damage and not Agent Orange from the power company.

    Ray put out three traps last week...at least I can't say it caused them to come in putting them out that late....everything was pretty much eaten up by then. Anyway, he said they were half full in about 3 days. He put them out in the edge of the woods hoping to catch them before they made it to the yard, garden, and fruit. I have to believe that killing them is a good thing.

    Guess, we'll try putting out Milky spore powder during August to kill their grubs. If I get desperate enough, I may even try the beneficial nematoads.

    Those of you who don't have them yet...get prepared. Do a search and read up on them. If you get some rain, the beetles come in swarms and if you don't...well you don't need beetles to kill off all your hard work.

  • 21 years ago

    Found this info on JBs in AR.

    Here is a link that might be useful:

  • 21 years ago

    I found one on a rudbeckia yesterday. I need to look up.....I didn't know they would attack trees. So far, not too many. gld

  • 21 years ago

    gld...I'm glad for your sake that they are few in number where you live. yes, there are several trees that they attack. I lost all the blooms on a mature crepe myrtle this year....just a touch of bloom low down on it. That makes me so mad...I planted it where I could see it from the kitchen window.

    I believe they are on the wane, though. I went out twice yesterday to look for them and found fewer than I had in past weeks. I want to plan ahead for next year, so would still like to know what everyone else is seeing at their house.

    Christie, you probably live as close as anyone to me, so please let me know when you see them letting up in your yard. Thanks!

  • 21 years ago

    Those AWFUL JBs are still hanging around here in Northwest Arkansas. I did notice once my neighbor put up some of those traps my population decreased greatly!
    Nancy U

  • 21 years ago

    As a possible new resident to NW AR, I'm wondering why the JB's are so concentrated (by Millie's map) in the two most NW counties of AR? Why there and not elsewhere? What, besides prized rose buds, fruit trees, and crepe myrtles, is the lure for JB's and why so many in those two counties? Surely the rest of the state has rose buds and crepe myrtles!

    I visited Central Florida a few years ago and noticed that hundreds(?) of homes had back yards totally screened in. One person said it was to avoid mosquitos, another said to avoid alligators, but I'm thinking that totally screened in back yards might ought to be a new trend for AR to ward off JB's!

    SusiQ in NE TX.

  • 21 years ago

    Numama, that may be why they tell you to place the traps away from the plants you want to protect. In fact we placed the traps upwind of our yard in the edge of the woods and they were half full in 4 days. Your neighbor may have drawn the beetles from your yard to theirs. We finally decided to take the chance...at least we are killing beetles and seeing less in the yard. I wondered if it is just time for them to dwindle away or is the trap being effective?

    SuzieQ, the following is a snip from an article on KU website about migration. So, either, they didn't place traps all over AR or the population is spotty. Since I know several folks in AR, I believe the spread is not even at this time...same as in MO. I wonder if it could be that some have been accidently transported from other States the same way they got to this country in the first place. They were first found in NJ in 1916. Do a search...there are some 300 plants that they like. Since we are surrounded by National Forest, there is no chance we could get rid of their food source. As far as the two NW AR Counties are concerned, it is probably just their proximity to heavy infestations in MO....favored migration route due to food supplies and good grassy areas for egg laying. The plants that I mentioned are only the ones I am concerned about...not a complete list of their food sources.

    "The spread of the Japanese beetle infestation is primarily the result of flight by the adults. They can fly as far as 5 miles but 1 to 2 miles is more likely. Usually, they make only short flights as they move about to feed. Local infestations spread as beetles move to favored food and suitable sites for egg laying."

    By the way, we have noticed that the Forestry Dept. place traps for various kinds of bugs and beetles all along the roads in National Forest areas up here and have done so for years. I haven't seen JB traps, though...I think they are watching for specific beetles that attack trees in the forest. The traps are not "one-size-fits-all."

  • 21 years ago

    Thanks, Millie. Guess I'll be Googling! What a "FUN" subject to research!

    Susi.

  • 21 years ago

    I live in northwest Newton County , and haven't seen a JB here . We are having some big brown nocturnal beetles , but I haven't noticed any damage by them .
    An oddity is the swarms of dragonfly type insects that have appeared in the past few days .
    SusiQ , we have neighbors who moved here from Texas years ago . They love it here . I also have friends in Harrison who moved here from Texas .

    Marian

  • 21 years ago

    Marian, we didn't see them until last year, but when they come it seems to be fast and furious...either that, or I wasn't paying attention, but I don't think so, because I have roses and that is probably one of their favorites...at least they stay covered with them. Keep a eye out...you are not that far away. I am in SW Stone county, MO...NNE of Berryville, AR.

    I have been noticing all the dragon flies, too. They have been swarming over a patch of buck wheat that my husband has as green manure crop on the garden. Don't seem to be lighting on it...just flying over. I need to do some research on them.

  • 21 years ago

    please, do some research on the dragon flies!! i dont seem to have the june bugs, and i've wondered if the dragonflies control them? probably not, just a thought. has anyone else noticed they're golden winged? never seen them before, have a few clear winged and blue--but the gold winged dragonflies are by the hundreds over our pastures, early morning, and evening.

  • 21 years ago

    JBs are nearly gone...only found 7 today after searching about 5 times. Problem is I don't know if it's the traps or just time for them to go away until next year. We put out three traps on July 21...they were 2/3 full of beetles when emptied on the 27th. DH put new bags on and re-hung the traps, so will see in a few days how many are in the trap.

    ceresone, I did look up dragon flies, they do eat other bugs...but all that was mentioned was midge and mosquitoes. Hey, they can stay if they will clean up either of those. Your eyesight is better than mine...I can't see what color the wings are.

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