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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Eliminating Japanese Beetles

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  • From: Ginda Fisher <list@ginda.us>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Eliminating Japanese Beetles
  • Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 11:32:36 -0400

I've also had good luck with milky spore. I applied it when I moved in, 10
years ago, and i've had very modest japanese beetle damage to my
raspberries, roses, grapes, etc. The only plant with noticible damage is
the grapes, and if I see half a dozen beetles I usually knock them to the
ground and step on them. But I do this perhaps 3 times during the season
and the vine seems to have plently of leaf to do its thing.

I live in the suburbs, and most of my neighbors probably treat their lawns
for 'grubs', so I can't speak to how far they travel. I originally put
down the milky spore due to grub damage to my lawn, by the way, and while I
do have some other grub species, my lawn does okay most years, too.
___
Ginda

...... Original Message .......
On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:36:57 -0400 Don Yellman
<don.yellman@webformation.com> wrote:
>George:
>
>Among the various techniques for dealing with the JB, you did not mention
the one that is by far the most effective and long-lasting: Application of
milky spore. Hand-picking, drowning, various types of traps, spraying
ground-up beetles etc. are nibbling around the edges of this problem. If I
were thinking of planting antique roses of anything of that nature, I would
be putting down milky spore now.
>
>Milky spore is a targeted fungal agent that infects beetle larvae in the
ground, causing them to explode and producing more spores. It will
continue to be effective so long as it can find a few larvae to infect,
which can be 20 years or more. It will also naturally expand its range
into neighboring areas if JB's are present.
>
>I don't fully understand reluctance to consider milky spore unless it is
concern over the initial cost. This product is expensive to produce, and
the initial application will cost something. But the long-range benefits
overwhelmingly justify the initial expense. Milky spore is now sold in a
dilute formulation designed to be applied with a common lawn spreader, but
I favor use of the pure material because you get much more of the active
ingredient for your money. Application can be made with a teaspoon, but
the cardboard tube applicator sold by the manufacturer is much easier and
faster to use. I have also found this product to be effective when applied
at much lower rates that those indicated on the label. You can stretch out
a 4-lb. can of pure milky spore, intended to cover 10,000 sq. ft., to over
40,000 sq. ft. or more if you are willing to do the walking. If JB larvae
are present in the soil, it will work.
>
>When I apply, I do try to get 35-40 feet into adjoining properties, but it
is not true that JB's will fly in from long distances to defeat your
efforts. They will simply be gone, with the exception of a few stragglers,
which I welcome to keep the spore reproductive activity going.
>
>Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
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