June 07, 2007
They’re Here—Japanese Beetles
If the continuing dry weather hasn’t been bad enough, I discovered in my garden the other day the one insect pest really guaranteed to make my blood pressure go up.
Japanese beetles. Dislike is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings about this iridescent flying pest.
At my house, the first place they take up residence is on my double pink Rose of Sharon bush. Then they move on to my rose bushes. I haven’t found they are interested in much else at my house.
Japanese beetles will skeletonize the leaves of roses, hibiscus, fruit trees, and other landscape plants. They only eat the soft tissue between the leaf veins giving the leaves a lacy look.
Japanese beetles are active during the day so that’s a good time to attack the problem. Some insecticides are effective against them, but I prefer a more hands on approach. I thump them off the plant and into a canning jar about half full of water and a little dish soap.
You can learn more about this common pest in this publication from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.