2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
It turns out that this is not an offensive nickname, but one of the most dangerous pests for the garden. Although in Russia it is not as common as, for example, on the North American continent, it is still found. Therefore, it is useful to learn about such an enemy - what if he looks in?
The Japanese beetle is one of the most dangerous species of insect pests for plants. Its scientific name is Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica). It looks very much like our local May beetle. Only a guest from Japan is distinguished by brighter and brighter wings with a light green color, beautifully shimmering in the sun. And the shaggy belly and funny antennae with three plates at the ends are the same as those of its May counterpart.
Most often, such beetles live in the eastern part of the North American continent. Scientists suggest that the larvae of the Japanese beetle appeared on the coast of North America as early as 1912. The reason for this was an ordinary iris flower, the roots of which were brought to the United States by travelers. A few years later, beetles began to actively conquer the vastness of America and Canada. Over the next decades, their number increased, since in those areas there were no natural predators that feed on these beetles, which soon became serious agricultural and garden pests.
The Japanese beetle can also be found in Russia. Its favorite habitats were the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin, which were even classified as quarantine areas to prevent the beetle from spreading to the mainland.
One Japanese beetle poses no threat, but when a large number of them are collected, they are able to destroy the vegetation of the garden very quickly. After their invasion, the leaves of plants turn into skeletons. By eating the soft parts of the leaves, the beetles prevent the plants from producing chlorophyll and retaining nutrients. Pests do not spare beautiful roses either, eating flower buds with pleasure. Finding themselves in a new place and finding new prey, beetles secrete pheromones that attract congeners. If the first beetle is killed after it has released the pheromone, others will surely find that place.
Female beetles feed on leaves, mate with males, and then lay their eggs. They lay up to 50 eggs in one season. For this, the females burrow into the ground so that the larvae emerging from the eggs can feed on the roots of plants.
The best ways to control Japanese beetles is to manually collect the adults, which are then placed in soapy water, or by applying an insecticide. In case of strong infection of the territory, it is necessary to pollinate the plants with poison that is safe for people. However, this remedy can kill bees, so it is better to use special traps for beetles, which can be purchased at garden centers.
You can get rid of the larvae of the Japanese beetle using biological or chemical agents. The use of chemical insecticides is considered more effective. A biological agent is considered to be groundwater, into which special substances are introduced.
The larvae of the beetle are small - no more than 2.5 cm, and have a twisted appearance and practically do not differ from the larvae of the May beetle. It is possible to kill the larvae with insecticides, which can be used prophylactically until the larvae appear with great vitality. Some insecticides are used in the fall, after the appearance of the larvae of the Japanese beetles.
Adult beetles are easy to pick up by hand and can be removed by shaking the plants. Better to do this in the morning. And place the collected beetles in a container with soapy water, in which they die.
To kill Japanese beetles, it is effective to use mechanical traps, which are an inexpensive but acceptable method for capturing adults. Traps can be placed in multiple locations, but away from your garden. Chemicals must be used such that are intended specifically to combat the Japanese beetle.
Interestingly, plants such as red maple, dogwood, lilac, holly, pine, walnut, and juniper are resistant to these pests. And most often the Japanese beetle harms apple, cherry, oak, birch, willow and black walnut. The foliage of these plants is a real treat for him.
The activity of adult beetles lasts from 4 to 6 weeks during the very height of summer, and the life of the beetle is 30-45 days, after which it dies.
To prevent massive eating of plants by Japanese beetles, you can cover them on top with gauze or fine mesh. True, this will only help against adult pests, and this method will not work for controlling larvae.
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