Japanese beetles killed my new sweet cherry tree around five years ago. We used to get thousands of them. Since then, I have put down milky spore in the lawn about 5 times and only see maybe a hundred in a season now. I regularly pick them and kill them in soapy water. Milky spore takes a while but it really seems to work.

Ace: Look's like you've got me here. The first FAQ indeed mentions control of the June beetle. This is one of those rare cases where product claims have actually understated their real ability to control pests. Oddly, the last FAQ on the list seems to directly contradict the first. This is the first time I have seen a claim that milky spore controls anything other than Japanese beetles. But the news may be better than that, based on experience here in the past growing season after application of milky spore (as I recall) in late June, 2006. The only previous milky spore application I made was around 1979, and the effect indeed lasted nearly 20 years, although it seemed to weaken in the last few years of that period, and I did have infestations of other types of beetles, as well as some increase in JB's. It turns out that the brown beetles I have always called June bugs are really one or another type of Chafer Beetle, which comes in the Masked Chafer, Rose Chafer, European Chafer varieties, and several other related species. The true June Beetle looks more like a Japanese Beetle on steroids, larger and flatter than the JB, but with a similar iridescent green color of the head and wings. This beetle has never been present in serious numbers here, but the Chafers have often defoliated particulars targets of their choice, especially plum trees and sweet cherries, and done quite a bit of damage to other fruit trees and garden crops too. Chafers feed mostly at night, and their season is usually shorter than the JB, but they are no more welcome. This past season, I not only saw no Japanese beetles, but almost no Chafers either, leading me to wonder if the milky spore had some effect on their larvae too. One swallow does not make a spring, and one season is not really a scientific test, but it is extremely unusual for me to go through a summer season with almost no beetles of any kind. One other thing I noticed in the FAQ's is some confirmation of my belief that the JB does not fly far before beginning to feed, and that the effects of the milky spore will continue to enlarge in area so long as there are larvae to infect. This is consistent with my experience, since I have no JB's, but properties only a few hundred feet away still do. It certainly seems worthwhile to put this milky spore down, although I would go with the pure culture that comes in a can, not the bagged stuff for spreader application which has a very low component of active spore. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

I have to hold the water w/soap close under where I try to flip them in, less likely to get away unless I throw them on the sidewalk suddenly and stomp on them. I don't enjoy drowning them, try not to look. They kind of gross me out more than most bugs for some reason. Nothing today but have to make another round right now. Pause. This year I have to do the front and back yard, more planting and roses. Today has been cool, mostly overcast and windy, but just found one deep in a Charlotte bloom in front. Last year one on my clematis, one on my potted plumbago, one on a petunia and a few on the other roses, one particular pink one. Most on Charlotte. I think it was not a bad year considering what some people are saying but still a royal pain as if there isn't enough else to do. I'll let my 2 Charlottes in the sunniest spot in front keep blooming because that is where I've had the most, that might attract them, I can find them more easily, and may keep them off something else. It is likely to get worse especially when it gets hot. I would set one of those nasty traps if I really believed they were effective, might just draw more in.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I appreciate them so much. I didn't realize that Sevin came in a concentrated liquid form. I will definitely check it out. I've also never heard of nematodes. So I'm going to look up to see what that exactly is. Here's an update on the situation: I just came in from mowing the lawn, and as I drove by I could see that there are no Japanese Beetles to speak of in my yard; or at least not on any of my plantings. Having said that, my shrubs look like they were involved in a nuclear fallout or perhaps like a volcano erupted nearby. They are are completely covered in the white powder! As for treating the yard for slugs, I know we have TONS of them. When we planted the shrubs this year they were everywhere in the holes we were digging. I wonder though if it would be a futile attempt because I live way out in the country, and I am surrounded, in all directions, by hundreds and hundred of acres of prairie. To illustrate, we have bunnies that live in our yard, and just a moment ago the most adorable groundhog was hanging out by our back porch. This may be a dumb question (if it is, please forgive my ignorance) but do the beetles also attack in cities and in the suburbs or is this more of a rural issue? I am interested in the traps. I forgot about them. I know some people say they attract the beetles so much that it can, in the long run, make the problem worse, but I think I'm already in the midst of "much worse". It's just amazing to me that 3 years ago I never saw one, then last year I saw a good amount, and this year they have evidently taken over my yard. :Thanks again, everyone for your replies. It's nice to find people who know so much about so many things that I care about.