Japanese Beetles

[doc623]

What is your most effective non commercial/chemical pesticide way of managing these?

[hengal]

Ducks and chickens.

[Tater'sPa]

Originally Posted by hengal

Ducks and chickens.

And guineas.....JB's haven't been that bad here....yet

[dare2b]

Milky spore will kill the larval stage. Takes 2-3 years to be noticably effective, so apply beneficial nematodes fall and winter in the meanwhile. This approach will work like a charm. Experience speaking here. I got rid of mine in order to make the moles go away.....

Milky spore and beneficial nematodes can be obtained on the internet. Neither are harmful to ducks, chickens, guineas, or anything else other than grubs (the larval stage of JB). Just Google for links. Hope this helps, and good luck!

[GoatsRus]

I second the milky spore (and guineas)! I put some Milky spore down 2 years ago and some more last year - farther out towards the pasture. I've seen 4 baby JB's so far this year. Of course we've had a bad spring (5 days of temps below freezing) which killed most crops and now excessive heat and no rain. Don't know how or if that contributed to the declined JB population or if the Milky spore and guineas are just doing a great job!

[MB]

I had about four million of the little buggers! I've been walking around with a bottle filled with water and a little bit of dishsoap picking picking picking... It seems to have helped actually. I haven't seen but one or two in the last week.

[Liese]

Knocking them off plants (especially rose bushes) into a can in the very early morning before they had warmed up and got active, then dumped into the kiddie pool that the ducks used; was very effective.

[goatsareus]

I have not found an effective method. Tried the milky spore disease, had no effect because I could not spray the surrounding farms so their beetles just hopped over to my place.

Curiously this year I have seen NO JB, very unusual. So I would suggest that the person who also has not seen many JB this year, it may not be due to the milky spore disease. It certainly is not in my case. It was about 23 years ago that we used the milky spore disease product. For me, they only descimate my late raspberries, so I let them have them. Try to garden organically, would rather sacrifice something to bugs than spray, within reason.

[Ravenlost]

Plant four-o-clocks. They are poisonous to the Japanese Beetles who love to eat them. Works like a charm. I haven't had a Japanese Beetle in my garden yet.

[All country]

Free range chickens!

Of course after the chickens fill up on the beetles they will feast on the grapes, and vegetable garden.

I have decided to let my chickens free range after the garden is harvested in the fall, all winter, into the spring. I hope this will at least keep the Japanese beetle population at manageable numbers. We have seen a few so far this year, but not many.

[dare2b]

Originally Posted by goatsareus

I have not found an effective method. Tried the milky spore disease, had no effect because I could not spray the surrounding farms so their beetles just hopped over to my place.

Curiously this year I have seen NO JB, very unusual. So I would suggest that the person who also has not seen many JB this year, it may not be due to the milky spore disease. It certainly is not in my case. It was about 23 years ago that we used the milky spore disease product. For me, they only descimate my late raspberries, so I let them have them. Try to garden organically, would rather sacrifice something to bugs than spray, within reason.

Hmmmm. My milky spore came in powder form and I also got an applicator. When I was done there were 2" dia. milky spore polka dots all over my yard. I have untreated area surrounding my yard, the JBs are there, and the moles too! but there is nothing in the yard. I'm an organic gardener myself, and milky spore and nematodes are both organic methods of pest control for the grubs (JB larvae). The milky spore will multiply and spread so the neighbors and my surrounding acreage should benefit as well. The downside is the slow rate of effect. Milky spore should be renewed every few years, but that's better IMO than having to apply beneficial nematodes twice a year, every year.

[Sherrynboo]

I am trying an experiment! I am hanging Bounce dryer sheets throughout my green beans. I just put them out two days ago and yesterday evening I only saw two J. beetles as opposed to a bunch before the dryer sheets. I am going to hang them on the cukes this morning to see if it will repel the stink bugs. I will let you all know how well this works.

Sherry in Ga

[turtlehead]

Larkspur, like four o'clocks, are supposed to attract and poision japanese beetles. I haven't been able to get mine to germinate though. Grrr.

[doc623]

What are "four o'clock's"?

[Ravenlost]

Four O'Clocks are flowers...http://www.chiff.com/home_life/garden/four-o-clocks.htm

[Tricky Grama]

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Four O'Clocks are flowers...http://www.chiff.com/home_life/garden/four-o-clocks.htm

I'll have about 16 billion zillion seeds from my 4 O'Clocks this year & if anyone wants any, pm me w/address & I'll send them. They are hot pink/fushia.

Patty

[dare2b]

Beware of 4 o'clocks, unless you don't mind an invasive plant practically impossible to get rid of. I'll stick to my nematodes and Milky Spore, thank you very much. Natural, biological controls not involving invasive plants, or for that matter, dryer sheets that never rot and clog the landfills.

[Mutti]

I read about the Four O Clocks and tried it this year and for the first time in about 4 years my autumn clematis isn't totally defoliated..for this I'm willing to root out the 4 o'clocks if they become a problem!!! We have about 5 plants around each plant. DEE