I've finally gone 'round the bend

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Country Style Homesteading : One Thread

This homesteading and organic stuff has finally made me certifiably nuts. Went out this afternoon to check on the garden. There's a 3 foot high stump about 5 feet from the garden, most notably 5 feet from the corn. This stump is covered with Virginia Creeper, that I was floored to find covered with japanese beetles. I mean covered! So I get a platic bag and try to pick them off. ugh. There's no way I can pick off ALL of these gross beetles. And as a side note...they're migrating to my corn. So, I'm thinking, how can I get these beetles. Of course!!! The vacuum cleaner!!! hmmmmm, the garden is close to the house and with a few extension cords....Got the vacuum plugged in and carried outside and proceeded to suck the little buggers up. Worked like a charm. They didn't know what hit them. I was so engrossed in my adventure that I didn't notice Dave coming out the door. hee hee Then it hit me how ridiculous I must have looked out in the yard with the vacuum cleaner humming away and beetles flying all around me. I must have looked like a mad women! But, I got so good at it, I could even get em flying in mid-air! And, afterwards, I even got the car vacuumed to boot! Threw the bag away...and presto...bugs all bagged and disposed of. My "new" garden tool is sitting by the front door, ready and waiting, just in case they dare to come back. (I just hope the neighbors don't stop by while I'm out vacuuming)!!!:)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), June 09, 2002

Answers

squish the bag, and give em to the chickens. But vacuuming to remove pests isnt a new idea,, they have been doing that to strawberries for a long time. Glad it worked for you,, what type of vac?? household or a shop vac? Thye alos amke traps for those jap beetles they get attracted to it by pheromones

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), June 09, 2002.

Oh, my goodness, Annie!!! I'm sitting here in hysterics!!! .....can't breathe...... laughing too hard.........

..........I can't wait to give it a try!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 09, 2002.


Too funny! Thanks for the great visual! LOL!

-- Cheryl in KS (klingonbunny@planetkc.com), June 09, 2002.

Household vac Stan. But, I'd love to get a handheld. Lugging around the vacuum in the yard was the hardest part! :) I also think I've found natures lure with the Virginia Creeper. The beetles seem to love it and I can't understand why. In fact, the beetles seemed to prefer the creeper. The leaves on it were eaten up and I checked other places that it's growing....and same thing hmmmmm.

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), June 10, 2002.

hehehehehehehe! Oh Annie!

Virginia Creeper, ya say? You can't get rid of that stuff around here!

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), June 10, 2002.



Annie, Best laugh I've heard today - and a little mad at myself that I never thought to try it.

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), June 10, 2002.

Hey y'all, I found something else out too. The other day while vacuuming, the beetles when disturbed, would scatter all over....ie, flying away. Last night, about 8:30 pm, I went out to check the corn and noticed about 6 beetles on it. I decided to just handpick them. They acted like they were dead! Very lethargic. Had to be the time of day....dusk. So, I checked out the creeper covered stump, and same thing there. Got out the vacuum again and this time I got even more beetles because they didn't fly away. So, the tip is....when vacuuming beetles outside, the best time is at dusk.

Those beetles should know better than to mess with a housewife armed with a vacuum! (and looking for the most efficient way to do it) :)

-- Annie (nmmistletoe6@earthlink.net), June 11, 2002.


Patty, same thing here. It's all over the hillside. Climbing on rocks and up the trees.....I was surprised to find how much the japanese beetles like it. I looked up Virginia Creeper and found out it blooms in June and July with a green flower that's unnoticable. Maybe that's why so many beetles, because it's blooming?

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), June 11, 2002.

Yep, you're right, Annie! Whether you're hand-picking or vacuuming Japanese beetles, the best time of day is early in the morning or in the evening. I think it has something to do with the amount of sunshine. They act "asleep" at those times of day. Maybe you should patent your vacuum idea. Maybe make a smaller, cordless vacuum with shoulder strap.... Hmmm, come up with a catchy name like the Beetle Zapper or Japanese Beetles Suck...(get it?) Yea, I know. It's bad! LOL

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), June 11, 2002.

A Dustbuster works great for walking around the yard, sucking up the dandelion puffballs before the seed can be scattered by the wind...

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), June 13, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ