Japanese Beetles

[NEOhiodemocrat]

We are being overrun by Japanese Beetles here in Northeast Ohio this year. But one thing is happening that I have never seen before. We have a nectarine tree that has a pretty good size crop on it. Now when you go out and look, you can't even see the nectarine's, just a ball of Japanese beetles. They eat the fruit right down to the pit. So now I have pits hanging by the stems. I had no idea that they would eat fruit. I thought they just ate the leafs. Has anyone else ever seen this happening?

[Blue Gardener]

1. They love raspberries

My sister has a raspberry patch and it's a constant battle to get to the fruit before the beetles get it all.

[blue neen]

2. It's been really bad in southwestern PA this year, too.

We've put out several Japanese Beetle traps, and they become filled with the little monsters very quickly. It's disgusting.

I didn't know they would eat fruit, either. :shrug:

[Kolesar]

3. There is a bacteria called Milky Spore that attacks the Japanese beetle grubs in the ground

It must be broadcast all around the lawn and will work in the fall during the grubs' feeding period. You can spend $30 to $80 for the container. It becomes effective in a year or so and lasts for 10 or 15 years. The microbes will successively spread into your neighbors' yards, too.

It's next on my to do list. (I think it is a bacteria)

[LiberalEsto]

4. Milky Spore worked well for me

I applied it a couple of years ago. It takes a year or two to infect the grubs and spread.
This year I've had hardly any Japanese beetles on my roses.

[Kolesar]

5. Wow! Great news

I have been away.

[susanna]

6. I toured Michigan State University's Horticulture Gardens yesterday...

in East Lansing, Michigan. Japanese beetles were all over the place. I know what you're talking about. They had pretty much taken up residence in the rose garden. I have found a few this year in my garden, but nothing on the scale I saw there. It must be a banner year for them.

I didn't know they would eat fruit, but after seeing them not only in the perennial and annual displays at the tour garden, I would believe it. Strange...