UUGGHH!!! 1ST SIGHTING JAPANESE BEETLES

Well, you know it's June when the first Japanese beetles appear on your roses. Oh, sure, they're sort of pretty but don't let their appearance fool you! These shiny, metallic brown flying beetles are a destructive force, and the more you have, the more seem to be attracted to various plants...the most organic control is hand picking, early in the morning, armed with a bucket of soapy water. They are sluggish this time of the day and are very easy to bap into the bucket. Spraying with a solution of Neem oil is also effective. Whichever method you use, you have to be persistant! They are becoming more and more of a problem for homeowners since coming into our country from Japan in 1916. The beetles drop from plants in the summer, laying eggs which hatch in August into white grubs. Control of these grubs will help with control in your yard, and keep your grass alive!) but they are strong flyers and will inevitably come from other areas of your neighborhood. Laying out applications of Milky Spore, a natural bacteria which kills the grubs is also a good option, but again, you really need to work in concert with your neighbors to make complete control even remotely possible... Japanese beetle traps are another option, however, many experts say that they actually attract more beetles to the area - I'm not sure I want to play with that kind of fire!! At any rate, as with any pest, staying on top of the problem and dealing with it in whichever way is best for you is certainly better than letting them devour your ornamentals!!!