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mew · 06-27-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonshae

Go to a yard sale and get a blender. Gather up as many of the beetles as you can. throw them in the crappy blender with a cup of water, and strain out the parts. Put the liquid in a cheap squirt bottle. Spray the bug juice all over your plants. For some reason, the beetles don't like to eat through Uncle Bob. The solution doesn't store very long (maybe if refrigerated or frozen...), and you'll have to reapply after a rain, but the beetles are only around for a couple weeks.

If that works, it sounds awesome!

CatchinZs · 07-03-2008, 07:05 PM

I use Neem oil as well.
I haven't had much of a problem with beetles yet. I found one or two on the hops so far but they don't stay around for long.

Neem oil also kill aphids which were eating the heck out of my plants in June.

MashStirBrew · 07-06-2008, 09:39 PM

I have the same problem!! Went on vacation for a week and they moved in. They even chewed on the cones!!!!! The plants will survive, but crap these little boogers can eat!! Not sure what I am going to do about them since my hallertau is about ready to harvest. I normally just flick them off of my tomatoes and into soap water, but 13 feet in the air is a little high to be flicking bugs off.

cuinrearview · 07-07-2008, 12:49 AM

I had to climb a ladder to shake one off myself last night. First one I've ever seen in five years with this plant. Hopefully it's the last.

HomerT · 07-07-2008, 12:56 PM

Came home last night to find my Hallertau covered in them for the top thrd of the vine. My leaves look like swiss cheese. Knocked em off, but it appears they left the flowers alone.

-Todd

modenacart · 07-08-2008, 01:30 AM

My chickens make quick work of the ones they can get to. They love them.

homebrewer_99 · 07-08-2008, 03:33 AM

I went out to the garden after dinner...man, they are all over the grape leaves. Looks like there's more beetles than grapes...lots of finger nail sized ones. I did locate the HUGE mother, I guess that's her...she's like 6 times as large as the rest...should have grabbed her and squashed her on sight...

They haven't made it to the garden that I can see.

My wife mixed up "something" and said go to town on them...they just stayed on the plant like it was raining or something.

I'll have to check in the AM to see if there's any progress...

In an Andy Rooney drawl...Did ya ever notice that Japanese Beetles look a lot like Volkswagons???

**pjj2ba** · 07-08-2008, 02:34 PM

Here's a tip for killing the litle buggers. Spray at dusk or shortly thereafter. Apparently then they are less likely to fly away. Last year they were SWARMING all over my cherry tree which had a rough winter so it already was not happy. I found that when I started spraying (hose end tree sprayer - goes to ~30 ft), a bunch would take off before I got to that part of the tree. Then one evening, I sprayed at dusk, and dang if the litle buggers didn't just stay put.

I've just begun this years battle. So far, there are a lot less than last year.

ChrisS68 · 07-17-2008, 02:39 PM

Pjj2ba, What insecticide are you using for your trees?
I've never seen these buggers around here before, but then again, I'm no gardener and probably just never noticed. Over the past week or so, I've found a couple here and there, but no big deal. Compared to the other reports, I was hoping I was going to get lucky. Well, we've definitely got them now; I guess they get really active in warm weather. I came home last night and found about 6 of them chowing on my Saaz, and another couple munching on my Hallertauer - just when both plants have started to produce burrs. I have a tree next to where I planted my hops and it is being swarmed and devoured by the little bastards. I'm hoping the tree keeps them distracted as they seem more interested in that than anything else in the yard. I checked the hops on the way out this morning, and I didn't see any more beetles on them. Of course I'll be keeping an eye on them, and if they start to go after the hops in earnest, I have some Sevin dust I'm going to sprinkle on the plants, unless someone has a better idea. I might also pick up some Neem oil and give it a try.

Chris

**pjj2ba** · 07-17-2008, 03:33 PM

I''ve used both Sevin (carbaryl) and Malation. The last spraying of Sevin seems to have worked pretty well. I applied it (at night) right after some rain and it hasn't rained since so I'm seeing very few of the little f@#*$ right now. I've noticed I've had some new growth since I last sprayed and the bugs are starting to find that so I think I'll be spraying again tonight.