CULT: PESTS: Japanese Beetle Article (short)
- To: iris-talk@onelist.com
- Subject: CULT: PESTS: Japanese Beetle Article (short)
- From: B* J*
- Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 12:43:13 -0500
From: Barb Johnson <bdjohnson@atlascomm.net>
Hi all,
Given the "millions and billions and trillions" of Japanese beetles we
had last year, I was glad to find this short article in the latest
National Gardening Magazine, July/August '99 issue, page 27, under
"What's News." Even tho we managed to wipe out an astonishing number of
said grubs, the neighbor did not, so his beetles were infringing upon
our territory. Am glad to say they did eat a great amount of our pesky
johnsongrass, however. Anywhere, here 'tis:
BEETLE MANIA
Controlling Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) seems an endless labor.
In the eight decades since the ravenous pests were discovered in this
country, gardeners have tried a host of controls, ranging from the
conventional -- handpicking and spraying -- to the wacky -- spiking
grubs to death with aerator sandals. (For more controls, see page 37,
where handpicking, milky spore, neem, nematodes,and pyrethrins were
suggested).
Recently, David Held and Daniel Potter of the University of Kentucky
investigated a little known fact about these beetles: they love garden
geraniums (Pelargonium). The entomologists found that Japanese beetles
are also intoxicated by these plants. When given a choice of food,
including their favorite linden leaves, adult beetles repeatedly chose
geraniums even though this meal caused paralysis for up to 24 hours, and
death in as many as a third of the population. The researchers suspect
that geraniums contain a chemical that has narcotic effects on Japanese
beetles.
Lab experiments using Orbit series geraniums reveal that beetles prefer
the flowers to leaves. The narcotic effects were similarly powerful
whether the blooms were orange, red, or white; however, effects were
significantly stronger in plants grown in full sun.
Although field research hasn't been done and the plants' effectiveness
as a pest control is inconclusive, curious gardeners may want to try
interplanting geraniums as a trap crop with other beetle favorites such
as roses. If you try it, write to us about your experience. -- Shila
Patel (end of quote)
Now if we could just find something that paralyzes grasshoppers! --B.
--
Barb Johnson b*@atlascomm.net
Near Springfield, SW Missouri AIS, ISO, HIPS, RIS, MIS
USDA Zone 5b AIS Region 18 (KS & MO)
Learn the natural way to health at
http://chetday.com
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