Re: japanese beetles...your help

**C* <i*@cobrahead.com>**

Zip 53523 near Madison, Wisconsin has experienced the driest June ever
recorded and it has only rained in July in the last couple days, but our
beetle infestation is still heavy, equal to all but the first two years
since they showed up.  Japanese beetles have only been in southern
Wisconsin for six years.  They show up in early June and they last until
frost, but their numbers diminish rapidly after July.  When they first
arrived they appeared to be an unstoppable plague, but they have moderated
since then.

I hand pick beetles, knocking them into a gallon plastic jug to which I've
attached a funnel.  It's quite effective and much easier than using a bowl
of soapy water, but it has to be daily picking or their swarming can get
out of control.  Leaf damage, while noticeable, doesn’t seem to slow down
food production if the beetles are cleaned off the plants regularly.

The beetles appear to like wild grape leaves above all else. As those are
both on my property and nearly everywhere in our semi-rural neighborhood, a
chemical or biological war against the beetles seems pointless, especially
since hand picking has proven to be an effective control.

Beetles first show up in the vegetable garden in the asparagus fronds.  In
ranking their other food garden likes, I would say raspberries, certain
pole beans, sweet potato vines, then eggplant leaves.  They will eat most
anything, but keeping the listed ones clean seems to prevent most damage.

Noel

Noel Valdes
CobraHead LLC

On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 7:59 AM, <Hamptongar@aol.com> wrote:

> Following up on this thread I'd really appreciate any list  members who
> have had Japanese Beetle issues this summer who could tell me where  they
> are
> located, when they first spotted Japanese Beetles this year and when  they
> seemed to disappear.  Your zip code would also be  helpful.
>
> Also if you think this years beetle occurrence seemed to be  heavier or
> lighter than last year.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Andrew
>
>
>
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