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Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

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Battling Japanese beetles

1 July, 2022 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
1 July, 202222 October, 2022Filed under:
  • Bugs and Insects
  • Garden Wildlife
  • Gardening
  • Oklahoma
  • Roses

As if it wasn’t already difficult to grow roses in Oklahoma, we are now battling Japanese beetles too. Normally, I don’t like to include words of war in my posts, but battling Japanese beetles is just that. War.

Damage from Japanese beetles on Rosa ‘South Africa.’

Identifying Japanese beetles

From the University of Illinois Extension: “Adult Japanese beetles are stocky and range from about 3/8 to 1/2 inch long. They are metallic green with coppery wing covers. There is a row of white spots along each side of the abdomen just below the wing covers, as well as two white spots on the back end of the abdomen.”

Japanese beetle adult in case you’re wondering.

These beetles are a menace

I never saw these green and brown beetles in my garden until last year, and I’m hearing from all of you that they are a menace in your gardens too this year. Populations rise and fall based on food sources. Oklahoma received a lot of great rain in May, and while our gardens are plentiful, the insects, good and bad, are too.

Japanese beetles really like Rosa ‘South Africa.’ Of course, that makes them easy to spot too.

Japanese beetle larvae

Japanese beetle larvae are white grubs, but we have a lot of insects in our gardens that start out as white grubs. I squish all the white grubs I see in the soil. I know it’s gross, but wear gloves. Or, if you have chickens, they’d love to eat this little grub.

Japanese beetle larvae. Photo courtesy of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

What do Japanese beetles eat?

Japanese beetles love eating roses. From what I’m hearing from my garden coaching clients, the beetles also seem to be eating a lot of Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon. I cut my rose of Sharon shrubs back late so they aren’t blooming yet. I’m not seeing them on my perennial hibiscus, but the grasshoppers are eating those.

Leaf damage from Japanese beetles.

Japanese beetles eat over 300 species of plants from root to flower. The larvae eat the roots, and the adults consume everything else.

What are Japanese beetles’ natural predators?

In their native Japan, Japanese beetles have more natural predators than they do in the U.S., but Tachnid flies seem to eat more Japanese beetle adults than some of our other predators.

Battling Japanese beetles

Pesticides are not very effective unless you use a broad-spectrum pesticide, but you know what that means. You will also kill pollinators and other insects. Broad spectrum means nearly everybody. I’ve heard some people use a systemic pesticide, but that’s also off limits in my garden.

I call this “Death in a Yeti Cup,” and I laugh as I say it.

So how do I battle Japanese beetles? I use a Yeti cup with a handle and soapy water. I’ve turned my hunting into a game. Each morning and at lunchtime, I walk outside with my bright pink Yeti cup and flip those beetles into the water. They sink into the soapy suds, and I flash the victory sign.

You must work fast though because they are very good flyers.

I know this sounds like a wimpy battle plan, but it actually works if you start early. From the University of Minnesota Extension, “[b]eetle-damaged leaves emit air-borne chemicals that attract more beetles. By physically removing them, you’ll reduce the number of new beetles attracted to your plants.”

More info please

If you’d like to learn more about this very irritating insect pest, please check out this Rosechat podcast episode where Teresa Byington interviewed Dr. Raymond Cloyd from Kansas State University, an expert on rose diseases and pests. He’ll tell you the same thing I have. Soapy water and handpicking reduces their numbers until next year.

Now, get out those Yeti cups and get to work.

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Tagged:
  • David Austin roses
  • Growing roses in Oklahoma
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Japanese beetles
  • Rose pests
  • Roses

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dana says

    2 July, 2022 at 5:26 pm

    You are too funny! Go get ‘em Dee! It is WAR!!

    • Dee Nash says

      3 July, 2022 at 11:37 am

      I’m glad I made you laugh. They are the pits.

  2. Patricia Evans says

    2 July, 2022 at 10:59 am

    Japanese Beetles have been a pest in my gardens for as long as I’ve been gardening (and I’m 74). I do hand-pick them until I get tired of doing it (I do the same with red lily beetles). Some years are worse than others. I don’t grow roses because of the deer, but the JBs target lots of other plants including Sycamores, blackberries, Rose of Sharon and sometimes zinnias. And the grubs attract a steady parade of skunks who dig up the yard looking for them.

    • Dee Nash says

      3 July, 2022 at 11:38 am

      Hey Patty, it’s true that they are marauders of the tallest order. I don’t have much trouble with skunks. Armadillos on the other hand can be a nuisance. Moles and voles are so irritating too. It’s a wonder we can grow anything isn’t it?~~Dee

    • Dee Nash says

      3 July, 2022 at 11:43 am

      Hi Patty, nice to hear from you. Garden pests of all types are such a drag aren’t they? It’s a wonder we get any flowers and/or veggies at all. Keep up the good fight!~~Dee

  3. Erin says

    2 July, 2022 at 8:29 am

    It came to my attention this summer that milky spore will kill the grubs, and it’s effect will remain that way for 20 years! Really seems worth it to me.

    • Dee Nash says

      3 July, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Hi Erin, yes, milky spore, Paenibacillus popillae, is the preferred organic control. However, in a large garden like mine, it isn’t feasible. I just looked at the prices and it costs $42.95 for enough milky spore disease to cover 2,500 square feet. I think I’ll just keep picking them off and drowning them. Here’s a good link explaining the pros and cons of milky spore written by the University of Illinois Extension.~~Dee

  4. Tracy says

    1 July, 2022 at 8:06 pm

    I’ve had great luck with milky spore.

    • Dee Nash says

      3 July, 2022 at 11:41 am

      Hi Tracy, yes, milky spore, Paenibacillus popillae, is the preferred organic control. However, in a large garden like mine, it isn’t feasible. I just looked at the prices and it costs $42.95 for enough milky spore disease to cover 2,500 square feet. I think I’ll just keep picking them off and drowning them. Here’s a good link explaining the pros and cons of milky spore written by the University of Illinois Extension

  5. Ann Reynolds says

    1 July, 2022 at 11:34 am

    My daddy used to pay us kids for each potato bug we picked!

    • Dee Nash says

      1 July, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      Hey Ann, yes! I’d pay someone to pick these beasties. Wish I still had little kids. Ha!~~Dee

      • Ginny Talbert says

        1 July, 2022 at 1:31 pm

        Dee, I’ve discovered that a Japanese beetle’s defense mechanism when threatened is to drop. I use a small bucket with said water and dish soap and place beneath the branch with beetles. Reach toward them and they drop – right into the soapy water. Yay!

        • Dee Nash says

          1 July, 2022 at 2:27 pm

          That’s a splendid idea Ginny. I watched one drop and burrow into the ground lickety split. I thought, wow!~~Dee

  6. Gypsy says

    1 July, 2022 at 11:25 am

    Milky spore doesn’t harm anyone but them not even earth worms.

    • Dee Nash says

      1 July, 2022 at 12:04 pm

      Well, hi there Gypsy, nice of you to comment. Yes, milky spore, Paenibacillus popillae, is the preferred organic control. However, in a large garden like mine, it isn’t feasible. I just looked at the prices and it costs $42.95 for enough milky spore disease to cover 2,500 square feet. I think I’ll just keep picking them off and drowning them. Here’s a good link explaining the pros and cons of milky spore written by the University of Illinois Extension. Thanks again for visiting and commenting. ~~Dee

      • Gypsy says

        1 July, 2022 at 10:39 pm

        The upside (if memory serves) is if water is decent they (should) keep reproducing and you should be protected for about 10 years give or take. And with any luck help your neighbors yard too maybe?

        • Dee Nash says

          3 July, 2022 at 11:42 am

          I live out in the country on 7.5 acres, and my neighbors aren’t the types to care about Japanese beetles, but I can see using milky spore disease in a suburban or urban situation.~~Dee

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