BPs

Can you list your State and growing zone by your name? To include it, scroll down to the very bottom and click on "Member Pages", then Edit Personal Information.

A lot of us rely on that information to address your questions, and in this case, the Asiatic beetle is present only in part of the US. So if you are not in the geographic region where it lives, we'll know immediately if that's not the problem!

So far, it appears it hasn't spread as far South as Georgia, but it's moving westward.

Oh yes, of course.
I will fill that out. I live in New Hampshire.
I am told it is Zone 5.

Thanks.
bp
(gosh people will think I am responsible for the oil spill)

BP

Thanks! (If you can add the State somewhere, that would round out your information.)

So it could be the Asiatic Garden Beetle, which is present in your area, but unless you catch one in the act, you can't be sure. They're night-feeders, so your first act should be going out with a flashlight!

If that's what's causing the trouble, I think your biggest concern will have to be making sure they don't hide in the soil and devour the roots of your plants. You can't see that damage as it's occurring, so good luck!

The link above says to control them as you would Japanese beetles. I control Japanese beetles by hand, knocking them from their leaf-feeding into a cup of soapy water. I don't know if that would work with these beetles or not. At least they don't congregate in huge numbers the way Japanese beetles do. Neem Oil soap is recommended as a spray for them, but you have to spray the beetles directly with it!

They're also attracted to light, so maybe you can lure them away from your garden.

Thank you so much.

I wonder if I put lights out in the garden if that could chase them away?

I have some flood lights. I have only found 6 bugs. Most
of my garden beds are raised and do not touch the ground.
It is crazy I know. But because NH has such odd weather.
Sometimes super hot in April sometimes freezing in Late
May. I use raised beds in a sunny location. Only two of
the beds touch the ground underneath. Every thing else is
in pots or wood boxes above the ground. I find for me this
helps to keep weeds at bay and bugs too.

My garden is also super small. I have 4 acres of land but
only the time to work a tiny garden about 12 by 15.
I grow flowers like Marigolds and Daisies. Daisies bring
the bees.

I also grow tomatos, cukes, squash, peppers (they keep
mean bugs away), basil, parsley (also keep mean bugs away)
mini green onions, lemon balm and cilantro.

I used raised beds because it is warmer for the plants and
I can mulch around the pots to keep them warm or even cover
them with plastic if it is bitter cold. I really hate to
use any chemicals unless I have to. The chemicals that
kill these bugs also can kill earth worms. And I love Earth Worms.

I am off to peek around my garden a bit more and see if
I can find any more meanies. And do a little research to
see what I can do or how bad the damage may become.
Thanks again.
bp

I think I'm in the same boat as you, BP. My basil seems to be the hardest hit so far. Six plants have gone from very healthy to near skeletons since Monday. I'm seeing some damage on other plants as well, but haven't found any of these on them yet.

This is only my second year of having a real garden, and for the last month I've been trying to track this down. First I blamed slugs, but I've only seen a couple of really tiny ones and they don't seem to like my beer traps. Last night I found the basil covered with earwigs, and tonight it's these June Beetles.

Last spring/summer it was all the rain, this year it's the bugs. Looks like I'm going to be in for a long summer.

Found this thread from last year and I'm adding to it because it has a good picture ID. I have these buggers in a very localized section of my 12x40 bed and they are intent on destroying my precious parsnips. I found a few while weeding last weekend, but must have missed several more as the young plants have been reduced to stalks in three 6"-12" sections of rows. I avoid chemical warfare when possible but I'm open to all suggestions. As they seem to spend the daylight hours burrowed in the soil, hand picking may not be the best option. Thanks for any advice, Tracy

I am sitting by a fire in upper Michigan, waiting to see if I can find the little night eater in my garden. Whatever it is has destroyed my beets, radishes, tomatoes, brussel sprouts and beans!

I haven't found anything yet. It is now 11:30pm.

Tina John, I am in SE Mich and I have them bad. They were present last year but worse this year. They are getting my herbs, peppers, flowers. It's maddening! I am going to try to set out some sort of light traps. I tried to catch them with the soapy water idea last year but didn't have much luck. I see them a lot in my soil when I am weeding.

Hi Fellow Asiatic Garden beetle suffers. I've had these guys in my garden forever! So this is what I do: IN the spring, I hand turn my soil and pick out the grubs as I see them. This will help but not solve your problem. Then, as soon as I start to notice damage to the leaves of my flowers and veggies, I get a large oval dish and fill it with soapy water. Then I drape a light over a chair and hang it very close to the water. You turn this on at night and the beetles are attracted to the light and so they fly into it and drop into the soapy water. I also go out at night and hand pick them and drop them into a cup of soapy water. In the morning you will see the results... or not. Sometimes the birds catch on and eat the dead beetles before you get a chance to see them.

This will help a lot. Good luck!

Mimi