Theeeeeeeeey're Heeeeeeeeeeere (japanese beetles)

They have found my cherry tree. What else do they like to eat? Do they chow on the London Plane trees too?

 

They loooooooove roses!
We took our rose bushes out last year and only had 1/10 of the number of beetles around.

 

Yeah, they eat most any flower or leaf of flowering plants.

Bag of Bug will kill them, but apparently it draws more to your yard than normal, and they spawn by the bag with the end result of more beetles next year.

We did the Moldy Spore Program last fall, so far no beetles. You can pick up Moldy Spore at the garden centers but it is expensive, more cost effective to join the program. Hopefully it will be back this year.

 

Homer... "more cost effective to join the program"... what do you mean?

I'm smacking myself for not having laid milky spore last year and have already discussed with neighbors that we're definitely doing it this year. (I think I read that its best laid in late July?)

 

oh... and yes... they found my London Plane. And my Pin Oak. Hubby is at Home Depot now buying DDT. :hide: (Or something slightly less toxic.)

 

I've seen a few holes in my flowering plum tree but no actual beetles yet (keeping my fingers crossed because they usually devour this tree). We did the milky spore when it first came through, here's hoping I'm seeing results!

 

The program costs less then or equal to what I would have needed to buy in cans. So for square footage, the program was a deal.

One can of milky spore is around $30 at the nursery, cheaper online tho. It's a pain to apply too, teaspoon here, teaspoon there, water, water, water... Much better to get with the program lol.

 

Thundercleese,

Milky spore is laid to kill the grubs. You did your part to reduce the number of adults in the neighborhood, but any of your neighbors (like me, darnit) who did not lay milky spore still had grubs in our grass. Those grubs grew into adults which are now flying around Broadlands eating our trees. And the trees of good folks like you who DID lay milky spore.

 

Two questions... is milky spore something you lay every year? And second... several of you have mentioned "the program". Is this something through the HOA? I'm not sure what it means to "participate inthe program". Or do you just mean you chose to lay it? And lay it again in subsequent years? Homer mentioned it being cheaper "through the program" than had he just gone to HD and bought it... so I'm a little confused.

 

I expected to see heavy advertising in the newsletter, but I read them cover to cover and either it wasn't there this year or I did in fact miss it. That's what made me question in that thread if it was no longer being pursued.

At any rate, neighbors and I have discussed it and will be doing it this year at the appropriate time.

 

I believe it was a one-time deal as we got a great price from the company that did it. As I recall, it took a while to finally get it applied last year due to rain, etc. and they had to reschedule several times. It was heavily promoted last year and believe it or not, it wasn't a big winner with a lot of homeowners. It has made a difference in my yard, but those buggers just fly on over from my neighbors' yards as they didn't participate. I got it more for preventing damage to my lawn, though, as opposed to the trees.

 

St Gabriel Labs will not be doing the applications again.

 

I'm not surprised they were overwhelmed. I wonder if they lost money off of that deal.

 

Does anyone know if Mill Run elementary participated in the Milky spore treatment? They are my main neighbor and I already have found them in my Hibiscus...

 

Cliff, I must have been a camel and had my head in the sand...or I just got sick of answering the door to solicitors...my bad! Needless to say we did not take part in the program...Just wondering if St Gabriel plans on coming out next year or in the follow years? Or would it be best to contact them directly? Thx

 

I also read all the newsletters and do not remember reading about a milky spore program. Granted I am new to the area. I was shocked to see some ornamental trees and bushes in a common area behind our property today COMPLETELY covered with these beetles today. Over 90% of all the leaves looked like a thin mesh and the remaining ones were 100% infested. I am talking about small leaves maybe 1-2 inches in length with 2,3,4 beetles on top of each! These trees (part of a common area in Southern Walk) will cost a lot of money to the HOA to replace if they die and I am assuming they will. Why isn't this program mandatory or included in our fees? It should be just like the quarterly pesticide applications. Given the amount of beetles I saw today alone, those little traps people put in their yards will not even make a dent on their population. If anything, it'll attract them more. Just my two cents.

 

When they did the program (last year, I think) it was in the newsletter and I believe we got individual mailings about it. I know it was a lot of work for the person that organized it, and we were very appreciative of her extra work (wish I could remember her name) because the company was trying to say they had treated our lawn when they hadn't. She was able to get the matter cleared up very fast for us.

It was a little bit of an expense, and even though it will save trees, plants, and lawns in the long run, I don't think I would like the HOA to come in and say "we're going to put this stuff on your lawn and by the way it's gonna cost you $100." St. Gabriel Labs does sell the Milky Spore in the powder with a tube applicator. I've also seen a milky spore product for a drop spreader, but don't know how long that one lasts, if it's a yearly application or lasts for years like the powder.