Getting rid of Japanese Beetles

[Cloneon]

Any tricks? I bought 2 traps last night from Earl May, and they seem to be working well, but I'm getting flack from some buddies who have done this before and said it just brought more than it killed.

I'm seeing mixed results in a google search - I've got them downwind per instructions and away from the plants I care about.

For me it was a very interesting solution. Our enclosed 2nd floor porch (allowing bugs to come up through deck) was their party place ... by the thousands. 2 years of vacuuming once per day at the prime time (around 4:00) has reduced their reproductive numbers significantly. That has had the compounded effect of eliminating them permanently. Prior to that I tried most everything and nothing even remotely worked.
BTW 'traps' were utterly worthless. I'd love if someone posted a photo of a trap that worked.

 

[azhuth09]

Beneficial nematodes, life changing

 

[JK4ISU]

Don’t fall into the Japanese beetle trapping trap

Beyond the satisfaction of capturing hundreds of beetles in a trap, does your yard or garden actually benefit? The answer is, most likely, no.

extension.umn.edu

 

[ISUTex]

Get a couple of chickens and place them next to the beetles. When they have eaten all of the beetles you can eat the chickens. Win win.

 

[pourcyne]

Make sure that you label all of the traps clearly in Japanese.

ほら、バグ、ここに入って

Or, in Romanji :

Hora, bagu, koko ni haitte

If you can't write Japanese, you can just tell them orally:

HO-rah BAH-goo, ko-KOH nee HI-teh.

which means,

"Hey, Bug, come in here."

It is sure to work, because everyone knows that the Japanese are very, very polite.

 

[isuno1fan]

Pyrethrin works as well as Seven and isn’t as toxic. Spray it once a week and you’ll be golden. Throw the traps in the trash.

 

[Klubber]

I've used the Dawn/water spray method from this list. It definitely killed them. In fact, Dawn's great for lots of pests like yellow jackets, wasp nests, etc.

I try to steer clear of the harsh chemical stuff.

Japanese Beetle Solutions - Northern Gardener

Have Japanese beetles in your garden? Read through some organic and inorganic methods to control their populations.

northerngardener.org

 

[cydnote]

Earl May sells a product called "Eight". I believe it is a reformulation of "Seven". It is more expensive but if you as an ISU grad aren't successful enough to afford the insecticide of the rich and famous . . . .

 

[cyphoon]

Zeta cypermethrin - aka the new formula for liquid sevin.

Don't use traps, and resist the urge to go out and squish them. That just releases pheromones that attract more.

I have applied milky spore to my soil, but they can fly in from miles away, so this has limited impact.

H

 

[birdflu]

I let catnip grow around susceptible plants. From my experience it’s a pretty good deterrent. The few I find I just pick off and put in soapy water. Neighborhood cat also enjoys this strategy.

 

[Lyon309Cy]

I always get them on my raspberries. I use an empty peanut butter jar with a few inches of soapy water in the bottom. They always drop/roll off the leaf before spreading their wings, so I put the jar underneath them and then use the lid to direct them to their new swimming pool.

 

[isuno1fan]

Earl May sells a product called "Eight". I believe it is a reformulation of "Seven". It is more expensive but if you as an ISU grad aren't successful enough to afford the insecticide of the rich and famous . . . .

It’s Pyrethrin based. Works great.

 

[NWICY]

I've heard milky spore is very effective.

You tee that up, but yet I resisted.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I think I know a guy who can help...

Spoiler

 

[Jer]

Only real option...



But seriously, do not Google image search "Hercules Beetle".

 

[nhclone]

Traps work just fine if you can get them set up next to a neighbor's garden or landscaping. Your plants will be clear in no time.

 

[CueTheMusic]

We've had luck planting giant marigolds.