I feel your pain. I had an awful problem with these little buggers. Sorry to say that nothing short of death will stop them. And the longer you let them exist, the more that will show up. They attract more and more until your trees are completely defoliated. Plus, they lay there eggs in the ground beneath the trees and return even worse next year.
The first year, I picked them off by hand every afternoon and dropped them into a bucket of dish soap. Left it overnight to make sure they were dead, and then dumped it. Only to start all over again the next evening. They nearly killed off 6 crepe myrtles and my beloved japanese maple.
I am all for doing things green, but I have to say that I decided to pull out the big guns for this problem. I started using Bayer Advanced tree and shrub food 1x per year. I have been doing this for the past 3 years, and the beetles are gone. Also, I haven't noticed any reduction in the good bugs, like the lady bugs. I understand that this may not be something that you wish to use, but just thought that I would throw it out there anyway, because it did work. Good luck! :-)
And even death doesn't stop them ... if they fall to the ground die, they lay eggs in the soil and the problem starts anew. Best to try staying ahead of them. Garlic powder is a deterent, but it kinda destroys the fragrance factor for your flowers. And you need to put it out BEFORE they are a problem and after every rain.
thanks, garlic powder. I am moving to a house that has tons of rose bushes and the beetles are terrible. the roses don't have any smell anyway. Not like the old ones. I sure do miss those.
Beneficial nematodes work long term and do not harm plants, beneficial insects or animals. They kill the larvae, but it is too late to apply them now until fall. They don't kill the beetles. It is more preventative.
We cannot use pesticides here, but I started using them before the ban, since the other products were toxic and didn't work.
You need to kill them to make a dent in their population, or else they will come back even worse every year, as people said they lay ground eggs. Get a can or plastic tub and put water in it and a squeeze of liquid dish soap. Go out there at least once a day when they are all over the roses and carefully either shake the bush or brush them (wearing gloves) into the liquid. They will die. That is the only way my we made a dent on all our gardens in Michigan. Every year now there are fewer beetles in our yard.
I have used Raid insect or ant killer...spray. Those pretty little beetles (?) drop off the plant and are never seen again....course you need to spray it often. They love roses, especially the buds. A non-chemical way would be better so maybe the water and dish detergent would be best. Will try that next summer.
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http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/control-japanese-beetles/5163.html
The beetles are really bad this year. I used neem oil once a week and that did it for me.
Are Japanese beetles in ALL states? Or where are they the biggest problem?
I don't want to kill the Japanese beetles, just keep them off my rose bushes, what can I use?
Beneficial nematodes work long term and do not harm plants, beneficial insects or animals. They kill the larvae, but it is too late to apply them now until fall. They don't kill the beetles. It is more preventative.
We cannot use pesticides here, but I started using them before the ban, since the other products were toxic and didn't work.
http://www.buglogical.com/beneficial-nematodes/
http://www.nematodes.com/
You need to kill them to make a dent in their population, or else they will come back even worse every year, as people said they lay ground eggs. Get a can or plastic tub and put water in it and a squeeze of liquid dish soap. Go out there at least once a day when they are all over the roses and carefully either shake the bush or brush them (wearing gloves) into the liquid. They will die. That is the only way my we made a dent on all our gardens in Michigan. Every year now there are fewer beetles in our yard.
I have used Raid insect or ant killer...spray. Those pretty little beetles (?) drop off the plant and are never seen again....course you need to spray it often. They love roses, especially the buds. A non-chemical way would be better so maybe the water and dish detergent would be best. Will try that next summer.
Beneficial bugs--Nematodes & Milky Spore you add to soil they kill the larve/grubs in ground before they hatch here's solution https://www.arbico-organics.com/category/japanese-beetles-control