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Old 24-06-2004, 11:06 PM
MAC
 
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Default Flying beetles - how to get rid of them ?

On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 14:25:51 -0400, "Charles Lanier"
wrote:

Ditto on the milky spore. We put it down 2 years ago over about an acre of
back yard and I have only seen a handfull of beetes this year. Normally our
roses and crepe myrtles would be completely shreaded by the little demons by
mid June.

"Susan H. Simko" wrote in message
...
wrote:
Umm....newbie gardener plants' like roses : bud/leaves, persimmon leaves

and
other plants are being eaten by these fingertip size beetles with

greenish
casts. What can I use to get rids of them but leaving my plants and

basils
safe enough to eat ? Thanks.


Best method I have is that I pick 'em off the plants and drop them into
a ziploc baggie half filled with water and a drop or two of liquid dish
soap. When I'm done, I close it and toss it in the outside garbage can.

Japanese beetle traps are pretty useless. Lots of evidence that they
attract more beetles than they actually catch.

Long term - I put milky spore down on my yard two years ago. It really
seems to have cut down on the grubs this year. Milky spore takes awhile
to "kick in" but once it does, it lasts for years. It's not cheap, I
think I paid around $20 for the cannister, but it only takes one
application for years of benefit.

Susan
shsimko[@]duke[.]edu


Milky spore is great, but be aware it'll kill the grubs of other
insects as well - such as fireflies. I thought long and hard about it
and decided to pick the little buggers off and drop them in mineral
spirits rather than use milky spore, because I really enjoy the
fireflies' twilight show each evening.

MAC