Japanese Beetle update

**H*@aol.com**

For those interested in my continuing observations regarding  Japanese 
Beetles...here are some more thoughts...

My first beetles arrived on July 2nd this year...right on time  (upstate 
NY, zone 5 at 1500 ft.).  The initial population on my indicator  plants( 
perennial hibiscus and shrub hibiscus) was fairly low and easily  controlled by 
hand picking and targeted  pyrethrin sprays.  I  maintained a 14 day spray 
schedule with 70% Neem oil.  After a lull the JB  population spiked a week 
ago and where I was picking 10-15 beetles a day today I  was able to drop 30 
into soapy water in one pass (8 plants).  

Keep in mind that the beetles don't stay on the plants at  night so early 
in the morning they are found on the lower areas and as the day  goes on and 
the sun rises higher the beetles move to the top of the  plants.  They rise 
as the heat rises.  The one thing about the Neem  sprays is that it seems to 
work as a deterrent against foliar feeding but since  new buds develop that 
have not been in contact with the spray the beetles seem  to migrate from 
the foliage to the flowers.  Or, the flowers are much more  attractive than 
the foliage for other physiological reasons.

When picking I always miss one or two on each plant and they  drop to the 
ground.  I wonder if these are females who defensively dig in  and lay eggs 
or are simply 'drops'.  Do wish I could attach a few  tracking devices on a 
select few.

On the flowers it's easy to spot the feeding females.   They are usually 
accompanied by several males in what I presume is a  mini-orgy.  I don't take 
the time to look closely or ask...it's more  important for me to get them 
into the soapy water.  But again, in the  interest of science I confess that I 
don't study the sexual preferences of  Japanese Beetles and for all I know 
they could be all males or all  females.  I presume not though.

One other thought for those who are not completely chemical  averse.  As 
the beetles seem to be very attracted to certain plants such as  roses and 
hibiscus among others...a selective application of Merit to the turf  around 
these plants in late June or early July might effectively control or  
substantially reduce the JB population as they need a turf environment for the  
maturation of the eggs and grubs.  I think this is critically important for  
those who grow roses next to lawns and have a known JB problem.  The  females 
seem to just drop to the turf, as close as it is, to lay their eggs and  
don't travel great distances for egg laying.

Hope this was helpful and I'd love to hear your thoughts and  have you 
share them.

A

Andrew Messinger
The Hampton Gardener is a  registered trade mark and is published every 
Thursday in The Southampton Press,  The Press , the Easthampton Press and 
27east.com
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