JAPANESE BEETLES!!!

So what to do about them? Well you could purchase and put up a beetle trap. It's a little plastic frame that holds a bag, and you insert a hormone packet. The beetles are attracted to the hormones, fly up and bounce off the plastic frame and fall into the bag. It's effective and good for a couple of gallons of bugs in one season. But there is a debate among many gardeners as to whether the hormones actually attract more bugs than would have invaded your garden in the first place. I usually get one and put it "away" from my garden, so it does it's job but not right in the middle of everything that I don't want them eating.
Someone the other day told me that she mixes a dish pan of soapy water, then "shakes" the beetles into it, where they get stuck and drown.
I'm guessing there are some insecticides that work at least somewhat, though I've heard they're very resistant to insecticides, and spraying is always a last resort for me.
But I have another option that I put together a couple of years ago that is also very effective. It's a manual method, but rather satisfying when you finish with a bagful of the nasty beasties. I've shared the idea with a few people and they loved it, even telling me I should patent the idea. But I've always said that if I ever came up with an alternative energy source (as if!), I would release it immediately onto the internet to benefit the world in general. This is sort of like that -- er, you know, if you squint and cross your eyes. Point is, I'd rather benefit others than horde the idea for financial gain. Besides, I made it with materials that everyone has in their recycle bin, and how would one patent that?
So anyway, follow along and I'll show you how to make a Japanese Beetle catcher. (I need a catchy name for it. Got any ideas?)













It's not a swift motion, and you don't want to "snap" the trap closed. You want to perform the movement without disturbing the plant any more than necessary, thereby alerting the bugs on the other flowers. Enclosing the bud is usually enough to disturb the insects from their perch on the flower inside the jug.
The beetles have a reflexive reaction of "dropping" from the rose, then flying away -- if they could anyway. Instead, they fall off the rose into the milk jug, then funnel down through the pour spout into the bag. And they're TRAPPED!!!
Within a few minutes, my son had captured hundreds of beetles -- hundreds of breeding beetles that won't be laying their eggs for next year. I know it's a drop in the bucket, but I'm happy to contribute what I can. Plus, I can match what the hormone trap does in a week in only about 15 minutes, and not be attracting more beetles to my garden in the process.
Note: Be careful not to snag the bag on the lower branches and rip the plastic, inadvertently releasing your catch.
When you're done trapping, simply dispose of the bag of beetles. I'm never a fan of causing any living thing to suffer, though I'm sorely tempted when it comes to a plague such as this. But a fairly quick and environmentally friendly method is to simply drown them in the plastic bag you trapped them in.
I hope you'll give this a shot, and share the idea with others. It works fabulously and any little bit helps. Plus, it's a great way to re-purpose your recyclables!
Be sure to check out the endless list of inspirational ideas at my home page childmade.com.

I'll be linking to some of the fabulous link parties listed on the right sidebar ... but really, that's a LOT of parties! I probably won't get to them all, but you should stop in and visit a few yourself. While you're at it, stop by my home page and add a few links there too!

I am traveling over from Transformation Thursday. We haven't had any but some of our friends and family said they have them. Thanks for the info! I will pass it on!
ReplyDeleteWow! Great idea! I'm bookmarking this to share with other friends! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteNeat! Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDelete~Kim
I'll try it. We'll have them swarming any day now.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an innovative idea! I don't have this problem where I live, but I'm sending a link to my SIL in Missouri. Found you and following you now thru Frugal Friday. Nice to meet you! Pam @ Sallygoodin
ReplyDeleteI am trying it this weekend. The beetles have started to arrive in Maine. This is very timely. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! What a great idea! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea. I'm lucky to not have any beetle problems..yet. So creative! Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly apprecite it. Hope you are enjoying your week. ~ Stephanie Lynn
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to save my raspberries. thank you!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat! I will save this for later use!
ReplyDeletehttp://imogenbegins.blogspot.com
Could I just hang it in the garden and put a couple of leaves they like in it?
ReplyDeleteVERY INTERESTING! I read that their favorite food is roses. That's the case here. I think I'll try this trap with rose buds that they've already made havoc of. To learn some amazing secrets, explore: http://exciting-solutions.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteThe Bug Jug!
ReplyDeleteBeetle jug would be a simple name.
ReplyDeleteI made one and it works great!!! Thanks for the idea!!!
ReplyDeleteThis trap combines so many passions for me... DIY, re-purposing materials, using my razor knife, and catching these disgusting and destructive beetles. It brings me great joy knowing that I don't have to sit idly by while they have giant orgies in my yard.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulously creative idea... I would call it the "Bug Jug" lol
ReplyDeleteGreat idea!! And if you have hens, you can "freeze" the bugs and feed 'em to your egg laying ladies as a treat to beat the heat!
ReplyDelete