CompuServe Messages

Hi Alan, You're right about the traps attracting the Japanese beetles. Where do you garden? Another popular method is using the milky spore disease. The milky spore is a bacterial disease that kills the grubs. There is some question as to how effective it is, especially in cold soils (as we have in New England). It is available under the names Doom, Japademic and Grub Attack. Handpicking is always an option…if you don't have the patience to pick them one by one, you might try a vacumn cleaner! Some commercial growers have large vacumn cleaners that they run down the rows picking up all insects along the way. There are some plants that attrack the Japanese beetles, such as roses, you may want to eliminate these from your garden. Another thought…birds will eat the beetles, so you may want to try to make your yard more attractive to birds. One last thought, all methods are most effective is you can get everyone in your area to take action. Good luck! Alison