Japanese Beetles

Where I live, in the Midwest, Japanese Beetles are wreaking havoc. Roses in particular seem to suffer from their rampages, as do beans and other broad-leafed ornamentals. People around here hate them. I must admit, I'm not too fond of them myself when they get into my herb beds, but I don't detest the little beasties. After all, they are unaware of their destructiveness and merely wish to live. And they're quite pretty, if you see one up close. Their carapaces shine green and bronze in the sunlight.

Unfortunately, we only have ourselves to blame for the massive waves of Japanese beetle destruction. These insects were brought overseas by someone who didn't pay attention or didn't care about the little insects hanging off the plants they were importing. That's how a lot of destructive creatures get into places they were not meant to be. And then they take off and proliferate, taking resources from local bugs and ravaging local plant life.

Around here, people want to get rid of Japanese beetles. They spray harsh chemicals, which may do temporary good, but in the long-term create more problems. Most insects quickly become resistant to the chemicals sprayed on them, as the survivors leave to breed more insects with their tolerances. This leads to heavier and heavier doses of potent chemicals that also have the potential to harm humans and the entire environment. You might think that the small amount of pesticide you use is just a drop in the bucket, but when you and all your neighbors use chemicals, it adds up. One of the largest sources of pollution is impossible to pin down - it's the accumulation from homeowners spraying their lawns and gardens.

Another way people attempt to deal with Japanese beetles, without pesticides, amuses me. One can buy bright yellow traps impregnated with Japanese beetle sex pheremones. The beetles are attracted to the pheremone, fly in, and are trapped in a bag or bottle. These traps are great if you want to attract all the Japanese beetles in the neighborhood. In my experience, the traps quickly fill with a stinky crawling mass of Japanese beetles, leaving the rest (still attracted) to hang out in your yard and eat your gardens. Unless you are available to dump the traps (handling that squirmy, stinky mess) often, the pheremone traps are much more trouble than they're worth. Although your neighbors may thank you!

The best way to deal with an overload of Japanese beetles is to plant or refrain from weeding) a decoy food source. I have found certain weeds that I end up calling "beetle trees" because they attract the beasties. Pay attention to your yard, and see what the beetles favor. Then, on your special plants, pick off the individuals that are hurting them and put them in a bucket of soapy water. They will die, and you're not attracting more to your area and you're not spraying potentially harmful chemicals in your garden.

Other helps include planting four-o'-clocks, and possibly other plants that reputedly kill Japanese beetles. I had four-o'-clocks at my previous residence, and I can honestly claim that my yard had a low amount of Japanese beetles compared to the rest of my neighborhood. Also, in New Harmony, IN, I observed a lot of dead Japanese beetles on the ground near some trees in the center of the Open-Roofed Church, and I wonder if those trees had a similar effect.

Unfortunately, not very many predators like to eat Japanese beetles. My daughter's pet praying mantis refused to touch them, even when they were the only food available. The beetles, as you may notice when they are in large numbers, stink. This is a chemical defense they create within their bodies to deter predators. Unfortunately for us (but fortunately for the beetles), it works rather well.

Remember, the Japanese beetle is not an enemy. It's an insect that has an instinct to eat what is tasty and make love in groups. It doesn't know that it's population size damages your plants. Your kindest and best option for dealing with the beetle is to do what you can to limit the population. They won't all die off, but they will be in balance with the rest of your little piece of the world.