North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Doug Harris" <agnt2000@gmail.com>]

W3cmp@aol.com wrote:

> Hello All:
>
>    It's that time of year when Japanese beetles and a larger beetle,
> similar in color, about 1/2"-3/4" long, with squared off shoulders are
> (were) feasting on my peaches until I sprayed them this morning.  I have
> forgotten the name of the large beetle.  Can someone help me with the
> name?  Thanks.  Chris Patterson

Yes,  as already suggested by mangodance, you are experiencing
damage from the Green June Beetle.  They are often a severe pest
on my peaches and nectarines (along with Japanese beetles), and to a
lesser degree on raspberries and blackberries.  They were worse
for me last year than this year.  I am in western Virginia, near
Roanoke.  We were very dry until  2 weeks ago when we
received over 7 inches of rain over a 3-day period.  I saw no
Japanese beetles or June Beetles until after the rain, much later than
normal.  I think the ground was so hard and dry it delayed the
emergence of these beetles from below ground.  

Doug Harris