Message Boards

I've been invaded by Japanese beetles this week. This seems way too early, though everything is early this year. Hopefully they'll be gone earlier too. I am out every morning armed with heavy weaponry (soapy water) . Let the wars begin!!

Has anyone else gotten them, yet?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: shook29,

gosh they're pretty.. but let them be pretty over in japan! good luck getting rid of them.

Oh, that poor rose! That looks like a horror movie shot!

Does soapy water work on Jap. Beetles? I've never tried it, cause they do have a hard shell. I've even tried Sevin and it doesn't even phase them.

Yes, the soapy water works well. The only downfall is that I have to rinse the roses afterward; if I don't they burn. Don't ask me how I know!

So sorry, Shook! That looks awful for your roses!!

Shook, is that your actual Rose, inundated with those scary-looking beetles? OMG, poor thing!! I cannot believe the soapy water thing works on such big fat beetles. I have made my own "insecticidal soap" too, for aphids, spider mites, etc. But for a big, fat bug like those, wow-wee, who even knew to try it?. What kind of SOAP do you use? It actually kills them? Good luck and I hope you beat this problem!!!
P.S. I have not seen one "June Bug" yet this year! !!!!! (My June Bugs are this bright "Jewel Green" color), those are prettier than yours!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Wavee,

I just use whatever soap I have around. Last year I used baby shampoo and it worked fine. This year I used dishwashing soap, but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick as well. Many have said not to use detergent, but I can never tell which is which.

Their here too. They haven't found my garden YET. They are in the pool, I just leave them til they drown, DH fishes them out, I want to smack him!!!!

They are here--saw several inside a large dahlia flower this morning.

I picked at least one hundred out of one bed...but tonight just two...maybe I am winning...
hate those things...some bugs have some redeeming qualities. these have NONE.
that soap did nothing on mine....so they got stomped

Oh, shook, that's horrible. Go back to the baby shampoo. You can find liquid soap...detergent says detergent & soap says soap. Murphy's is an oil soap. I've never used it for bugs, & I have used detergent. I always rinse with clear water after about 10-15 minutes. I didn't know the soapy spray worked on the japanese beetles either. I thought you had to pick them off & drop them into soapy water. If I ever get invaded by the beasties, I'll remember the soapy water. Thanks for the info.

I wonder if Shook isn't picking them off and dropping them into the soapy water mix. That's what I do, either than or dip the flower head into the bucket. I use a coffee can. I've never heard of using a soapy spray on them. Yep, they be here too........I've been drowning them by the dozens. I cut off all the rose buds and the little moved on to the daylilies and the coneflowers.

No pretty green junebugs here either...ours usually show up in July anyway. They don't seem to bother anything here.

ve

I mix it in a spray bottle and spray them. I can't bring myself to pick them off, even with gloves. They drop dead within seconds when sprayed, if using the right solution. I've been doing it that way for years.

How long do they hang around, I can't wait for them to leave!

Shook, I've found that a lemon detg. will work better down here on some bugs than a plain dish detg.
We don't generally get JBs down here...maybe just one or two a season...but we have June bugs! Our cats love playing with them on the porch!