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Japanese Beetles

July 17, 2011 by · Comments Off on Japanese Beetles 

Japanese BeetlesJapanese Beetles, A beautiful creature, but annoying has made its way to Colombia, and entomologists say it is here to stay. The Japanese beetle arrived in mid-Missouri in June and began to feast on fruit trees, roses and other plants. Although they have only been in the vicinity of a little over a decade, which can devastate nearly 300 species of plants in the urban landscape. Adult beetles are about half an inch long, with a green and copper metal body that looks like armor. They live in most of a year, becoming white larvae during the winter and maturation in the spring.

The errors arising from the first week of June and remain until mid-August, the highest number of beetles present between July 10 and 20. After that, the beetles gradually die.

Japanese beetles are expected population growth over the next five to seven years, according to MU entomologist Wayne Bailey. He said he called more than 1,600 beetles in three days on a single trap.

Beetles were considered an established population in Boone County around the year 2000, making his way through the state of the St. Louis, MU entomologist Puttler Ben said.

They are attracted to plants, shrubs and sweet scent of fruit trees. A lace, net-like pattern on the leaves, can identify their damage.

The beetles are active on warm sunny days, and group work.

Puttler said they are more attracted to roses and lime trees in Boone County. Some lime trees have been damaged on the MU campus, spotted by a darkening effect on the foliage. They are also attracted to the grapes, apples and peaches.

For residents of farmers and Colombia, protection of fruit trees and plants may be more of a challenge than they expect.

“Japanese beetles are annual and are so mobile that even if you treat your yard, can migrate from the neighbor’s yard,” said Puttler.

There are several ways to try to get rid of them.

Bailey suggests that commodities such as insecticide Sevin dust.

“Sevin is probably one of the best and which is readily available and relatively safe for most all around,” he said.

Other methods include hand picking of the leaf beetles, planting herbs such as garlic and chives, near the garden and use of traps.

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