Tangled Branches: Cultivated
happenings in and around my zone 6b gardens in northern Virginia and in central Virginia
Monday, July 21, 2008
Metallic Beetles - NOT Japanese!
I was wearily flicking Japanese Beetles into a jar of soapy water this weekend. They're thick on everything now, including basil! I don't remember having this much trouble with them on basil. Other favorites this year are the Cupheas and 'Red Shield' Hibiscus, which was just starting to look good. Drat. To me, the beauty of the Japanese beetles is what's disturbing. I brush them into a jug of soapy water, where they suffocate, but even in death their carapaces are exquisitely rainbow-colored. To be so beautiful and deadly, to be so beautiful and leave beauty slaughtered in your wake...
This beetle might be mistaken for one of the dreaded JBs if you're not paying close attention. It's about the same size, but with a slightly more elongated shape and waaaaay shinier and prettier.
And it only eats Dogbane, hence its name - the Dogbane Beetle (Chrysochus auratus). Sources differ on whether it eats Milkweed as well, but I found it on Dogbane and it wasn't eating anything.
Another metallic beetle that's been hanging around is the Green June Beetle. I don't like this one as much. For one thing, it's huge - about an inch long and almost as broad. For another, it buzzes around me while I'm working in the garden. And for another, the larvae are said to be destructive root feeders (like the JB grubs). Grudgingly, I find its dull metallic sheen somewhat attractive.
But I refuse to say anything nice about Japanese Beetles. I'll let Diane Ackerman say it instead.
Diane Ackerman, Cultivating Delight
17 Comments:
I've been catching up on my reading after a few days of trouble with my internet connection (a disadvantage of country living). Have you tried Bag-a-bug? I actually posted on those (what was on my mind that day!)--short version, I avoided them for years until a Biologist friend of mine suggested them--if you keep up with them, they really help. And Liquid Fence works great for the deer and rabbits. Anyway, I loved seeing your property and all you have in bloom--I didn't know about Bloom Day until I saw all the posts, but I'll be participating in August. It's great to read about other VA gardeners.
I'm so glad we don't have those bugs here, especially the larger one. Flying around you? Ewwwwwww. And I haven't seen a single Japanese beetle this year, not that I'm complaining. Maybe it was last year's severe drought . . . .
I found your blog by accident - a fortunate event. Fabulous photography. Keep up the good work
Wow, great shots! I love the metallic sheen on the Dogbane Beetle.
Cosmo: I've not tried the Bag-a-bug traps, but I'm getting to the point where I'll try anything. I always believed the faction that said the traps would attract more JBs to the area, making the problem worse. I'm ready to reconsider.
The deer really haven't been much of a problem so far. A nibble here and there is about it, but then I really haven't planted very many ornamentals yet. And I'm trying to stay away from known deer favorites. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over the years that I hope to garden in the country.
Bloom Day is fun! I'll look for your August post :)
Kim: Yeah, those big beetles are sort of creepy. Last year I saw one or two, but there are a lot more this year. I could swear that the cardinals are eating the JBs in my northern Virginia garden. I've noticed the birds foraging where the JBs used to congregate, but have seen very few beetles there this year. Now if I could train the birds to do that in central VA, I'd be very happy.
Bliss: Thanks for stopping by! And all the way from Brisbane - isn't the internet wonderful?
chey: They're really VERY shiny. I think I was lucky to be able to capture the look.
Hi, Entangled--Re the Bag-a-Bug--I'd heard the same--that they'd bring in more beetles than they trapped--and I try to be as organic as I can, and I'm pretty sure there's very little organic in Bag-a-Bug. But we're cultivating maybe two acres of ten, and we're far from neighbors, so on the advice of my very green bio professor friend, we set up a perimeter of bags about 30' from any garden, and it's done wonders. You have to change the bags often, though, which is pretty gross--but I think the traps keep them from laying eggs, so the population goes down more each year. My bio professor friend says it will work in neighborhoods, too, but you have to get all your neighbors on board. Anyway, July's almost over, and down here, that means bye to the beetles. Good luck!
I took a shot of one of these last week, and have been trying to identify it. Thanks. And, it was on dogbane!
Ooooooh awesome bug.
Cosmo: Changing the bags couldn't be any grosser than emptying the soapy water where I drowned them, could it? (I hope) I'll definitely think about this for next year. The JBs will be gone from here fairly soon too, but the sooner the better.
Gardenpath: Glad to help!
Mr Brown Thumb: That's one critter I don't mind having around. Wonder if they'd make good pets.....
I just changed the bags today--they're pretty awful--the dead bugs really stink after a couple of days. As a matter of fact, some former neighbors used some "tea" made of chiles, tobacco juice, and dead Japanese beetles as a repellent--sometimes gardeners might be a tad TOO organic (I'm kidding, and I'm sorry they moved before I got the recipe . . .) Anyway, one more week.
I'm afraid to even mention the name JB - we had tons of them in Illinois but I haven't seen them here. I did a web search and see no actual complaints from Austin gardeners, but lots of advice on treatment from nurseries and lawn companies. It almost seems like they're hoping we'll be invaded!
The Dogbane beetle is attractive, Entangled - maybe prettier than the dogbane?
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Cosmo: Oh yeah, I know that smell. I've sometimes left the JBs in the soapy water too long before tossing it and .... yuck! Your neighbors' concoction sounds like it should repel many things....
Annie: No JBs in Austin? That settles it - I'm moving there.
Maybe the dogbane beetles are a good reason to keep the dogbane? Much of it is surrounded by the poison ivy I'm trying to kill. But I dunno - it's wild and it's a flower so it stays for now.
I'm glad I found your site.
I would have mistaken the shiny green beetle for a Japanses beetle. Interesting, I'll watch for it. I'm not sure what dogbane is so I'll look that up too. I've learned 2 things today and it isn't even 8 am yet.
Marnie
That picture of the "metallic" beetle was amazing! What wonderful colors on such an ugly little beetle!!! I've never seen one so thanks for sharing!
Marnie/R&L: The beetle does look a lot like a pretty version of a Japanese Beetle. Dogbane looks a lot like some sort of milkweed - I always think it is a milkweed until it blooms.
Sherri: You're welcome! The shiny beetles are really eye-catching.
The Dogbane beetle is stunning! I don't know my insects well enough but I'm fairly sure we don't have them, nor Japanese beetles. Seems I should be happy about the latter!
Bird: Be very happy you don't have Japanese Beetles ;-)
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