Japanese Beetles

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The beetles arrived in our garden on Thursday here in south central Kentucky. Last year we picked and drowned them and used the commercial traps. Does anyone know of an inexpensive homemade alternative to the commercial scent lures. Thanks!

-- Joan (egavasnok@email.com), June 17, 2001

Answers

I can't answer your question about an alternative to the commercial scent lures. Just wanted to remind you and everyone else that once they are caught or picked, put them in a small bucket of water, swish it around to get them all wet, then dump them out on the ground in the chicken pen. Tastes like gourmet food to the chickens. Some will get away, but once the chickens understand it's lunch time, very few get to see another day. Helps with the feed bill + you get to see the little buggers eaten! Sweet revenge!

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), June 17, 2001.

We have beetles every year on our roses anbd have found not to use the traps as they only draw the beetles more. We pick them off and put in a can with soapy water. They don't like the soap. Erlene

-- (erlene@mcleodusa.net), June 17, 2001.

I don't remember where I read it or heard it but this WORKS!! Someone said to place wood chips in Kerosene or Diesel fuel, let them soak up some of the fluid and place them under the plant that the beetles are bothering, well I didn't want to put this onto the ground so I placed some wood chips onto a plastic tarp and placed this under my grape vines,(last year the beetles desimated the plant) the beetles left and only a few have returned only to fly away immeadiatly (SP). I do not take credit for this information but am more that happy to share it with you. Wayne

-- Wayne & (LYN) Roach (R-Way@msn.com), June 22, 2001.

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