Hi Emily,

Apparently we don't have Japanese Beetles here in Kansas. This article in Wikipedia has a long list of Host Plants for Japanese Beetles at the end of the article. Perhaps something that isn't in that list might be useful to you. Although just not being in the list doesn't necessarily mean that Japanese Beetles won't eat a plant.

Several years ago when I lived in Maine (a hotbed for Japanese Beetles) I was growing zinnias in order to breed them, and Japanese Beetles love zinnias, so a "beetle battle" was inevitable. I used a wide-mouth Mason Jar with soapy water as a catching device. I would hold the jar under of cluster of attacking beetles and disturb them and their natural defense mechanism is to drop to the ground. Normally that works well for them, but if someone is holding a jar of soapy water under them, that instinctual defense mechanism, to drop if disturbed, proves fatal to them.

Fortunately for my zinnias, there were a couple of other plants (grapes and blackberries) that acted as decoy plants that enabled me to kill dozens of Japanese Beetles every morning when they did their morning "fly in" and keep my zinnias out of it. As the season wore on, I created an out-of-sight graveyard for thousands of dead Japanese Beetles

Your easiest course of action is to find an ornamental or ornamentals that Japanese Beetles don't like. A different approach might be decoy plants. Or some kind of repellent.

ZM

Paul, what an appropriate ending for such a despicable insect. There's one solution. A bunch of pitcher plants, painted with essence of rose petals. Zen, your JB removing system brings back memories. They drop to escape, and the soapy water's waiting.

Yea, already. Noticed one on my rugosa rose. Something's eating holes in my butterfly bushes, not sure if it's JBs or something else. I used to do the same thing as zen man - the soapy water trick. Beasts.

Milky spore has worked well for me for the last 6-7 years. I apply a fresh supply once every 3 years, and (knocking on wood here) have had no beetle damage since the first year I started using it. It kills the grubs in the lawn, and since they don't like to fly too far for meals, it's keeping them out of my flower beds.

Lynn, when do you apply milk spore in your area and how do you apply it?

I have some Virginia Creeper growing on my fence, and the Japanese beetles attack that and leave my flowers alone. I don't grow roses anymore which I happen to know they love. I could care less what happens to the creeper vine, its everywhere around these parts.