Japanese Beetles are Public Enemy Number One for rose growers. The beetles can devour a rose blossom faster than anything I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately I’ve never lived in an area that did not have Japanese beetles. It has been very warm here for the past few days and I have been checking for beetles each day. Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon I found several eating away.
The insect known as Japanese beetles were first found in the U. S. in New Jersey in 1916. Until that time, they were known to occur only in Japan where it is not a major pest.
Adult beetles emerge from the ground and begin feeding on plants in June. Activity is most intense over a 4 to 6 week period beginning in late June, after which the beetles gradually die off. Individual beetles live about 30 to 45 days (unless I catch up with them first). The beetles are most active on warm, sunny days,and prefer plants that are in direct sunlight. It sounds as if they were designed to eat roses!
I do my best to get the beetles off our roses in the morning when they are relatively sluggish. I usually pick them off and squeeze . That seems to be as effective as any other method, but for some reason I can’t get Betsy to help me!
It looks like it will be an interesting few weeks.
By the way, I did not take the picture above — I found it on the web.
Senior Moments 
June 18, 2009 at 8:19 am |
Too bad you don’t have children around. When I had roses, I paid a bounty to my kids for these beetles. Amazing how many of them they found every day.
June 18, 2009 at 10:06 am |
I wonder how come they are not a pest in Japan. they do have sunshine and flowers. Though I don’t see them out here too much. Maybe they don’t like the salt air. I’ll send you a bottle of salt air. MB
June 18, 2009 at 10:55 am |
So far,we haven’t had any problems with them here,yet.I think jon would have a fit if anything landed on his roses!
June 18, 2009 at 11:35 am |
Oh those pesty little things!! Some people put out those bags to trap them in but I heard that they actually attract more of the things to your yard. I guess you have the right idea about squashing them!!
June 18, 2009 at 12:32 pm |
Betsy won’t help you????
I don’t blame her one little bit. Good luck with your new ‘job!’
June 18, 2009 at 1:04 pm |
George: Great photo of that rascal, they do a lot of damage.
June 18, 2009 at 2:04 pm |
They may be pests,but they sure look pretty.I can understand why Betasy does not help with the beetle patrol.:)
Blessings,Ruth
June 18, 2009 at 3:36 pm |
I don’t think I would blame Betsy for not wanting to squish those bugs – ha,ha!! I hope you are able to keep those pests off your beautiful roses!
June 18, 2009 at 4:10 pm |
Nice macro George, but they sound baaaaad.
Did you squish him after the shot.lol.
June 18, 2009 at 6:47 pm |
I can’t believe you have Japanese Beetle already. You can have our share. Don’t care for em much myself!
June 18, 2009 at 7:12 pm |
First of all that’s a great shot of the pesky beetle!
I’m not looking forward to seeing any of those guys. I will go out in the morning and look around. You can’t just let them go because they’re would be nothing left.
June 18, 2009 at 8:23 pm |
I hate these critters and don’t even have roses to worry about. I used to have Rose of Sharon bushes but they were such a magnet for the beetles that I cut them all down….although I am still fighting the little ones that crop up everywhere. I made the mistake of using the beetle traps one year…..nasty!
June 18, 2009 at 8:31 pm |
That’s the main reason I don’t do roses,
and the fact that I don’t have too much of a green thumb.
Have you tried those beetles bags? We had some beetles
a couple of years ago for some reason; anyway they worked great.
found them at walmart.
June 18, 2009 at 9:05 pm |
Are they the same bug that bounces off the door at night. I though they were called June bugs.And Thanks. I did not know they eat the roses. Or I was just brought up to call them that. Have a great week end.
June 18, 2009 at 9:43 pm |
I found black bugs, beetle looking eating leaves on my green bean plants. It has been raining here a lot but tomorrow I am going out with my electric bug swatter.
June 19, 2009 at 3:34 pm |
That method of bug control works equally well on fleas, and for some reason, the kids never helped me with it either. Now that the cat is indoor only, I don’t have a flea problem. Now if I could only find an easier solution to the mosquito issue…
June 21, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
Sorry these beetles are back and hope your method of control works for you. Reminds me what I used to do with SNAILS when I had lots of Gazanias on my parkway.
Hugs and blessings,