Q. What are Japanese beetles?
A. Many people may not be familiar with what they look like; they have copper colored wings with iridescent green heads and 5 white spots along their sides. They are sometimes difficult to see because they prefer blooms with lots of petals and they nestle down inside the petals. When you look into the bloom you will see their copper wings. They feast on rose bushes, grapes, hops, cannas, crape myrtles and 200 other species of plants.
During their larval grub stage you can control them with the bacteria called Milky Spore “Paenibacillus (formerly Bacillus) popilliae” spread onto lawn areas.
Natural repellants for the adult beetles are the herbs; catnip, chives, garlic and tansy as well as the remains of dead beetles. Another method for control of small outbreaks is with a soap-water spray mixture or simply picking them off, since the presence of beetles attracts more beetles. The more you are able to dispose of the better.
-Betsy Latta
A. Many people may not be familiar with what they look like; they have copper colored wings with iridescent green heads and 5 white spots along their sides. They are sometimes difficult to see because they prefer blooms with lots of petals and they nestle down inside the petals. When you look into the bloom you will see their copper wings. They feast on rose bushes, grapes, hops, cannas, crape myrtles and 200 other species of plants.
During their larval grub stage you can control them with the bacteria called Milky Spore “Paenibacillus (formerly Bacillus) popilliae” spread onto lawn areas.
Natural repellants for the adult beetles are the herbs; catnip, chives, garlic and tansy as well as the remains of dead beetles. Another method for control of small outbreaks is with a soap-water spray mixture or simply picking them off, since the presence of beetles attracts more beetles. The more you are able to dispose of the better.
-Betsy Latta