Soapy vs. boiling hot water for JBs?

16 years ago

I was wondering if anyone could explain to me why they use soapy water to try to drown JBs instead of boiling hot water. The only reason I ask is that for my first few years of growing roses, I tried to drown them in plain soapy water, they'd inevitably climb onto one another's backs or onto the soap bubbles, and often escape by flying off!

I have been nuking a cup of water in the microwave and knocking them off to an instant death 2-3 times a day for the past few years, and it has always been much better/easier for me. Does anyone else here do this?

Thanks for sharing.

:0) Phyl

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Comments (13)

buford
16 years ago
I just leave them in plain water. Just don't fill up the container enough so they can get out. Eventually I toss it down the toilet or sink drain.
michaelg
16 years ago
Because I would probably scald myself.

I don't use a cup of soapy water, I use an old aluminum pot and leave headroom. I can't recall any ever escaping.
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rokkis_mom
16 years ago
I read somewhere that the soap forms a film over the surface of the water that keeps them from being able to climb out?
mdseagull
16 years ago
I've never had any trouble with them climbing out. Takes 'em a while to go to that great jb heaven in the sky, but eventually they flee this mortal coil LOL!
mjsee
16 years ago
I've never had one fly out. I put the soap in AFTER the water--no foaming.

They try to climb on one another's backs...but to no avail.

BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
banders
16 years ago
mjsee, we must be TWINS!! I waste a lot of time, and get a lot of satisfaction from, just watching them struggle and then shuffle off this mortal coil ;-)

Barbara
phylrae
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone....maybe I'll try it again, but not let the water get bubbly-water first, then a little soap. That's interesting, rokkis mom, the reason for the soap. I'll try it like you do, Buford, w/o soap too, and see if they get anywhere. And here I thought I had a HOT idea with the nuked water. LOL Phyl
veilchen
16 years ago
I have too many roses and too many JBs, the water would get quite cold before I got very far. I use a squirt of dishwashing soap in a small bucket and they never climb out.
shellva
16 years ago
I've never had them escape from my soapy water. In fact it's more like watching a log rolling contest. They try to climb on each others backs in the soapy water but the bodies just roll over in the water making the climber fall back in.

Never had any manage to climb on top of the bubbles either.
phylrae
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all...I guess the trick is to put the soap in last and let it just make that "film." I'd never done it that way, and they would just climb onto the bubbles....and some DID escape! That's why I decided to nuke the water in the first place. Your way is MUCH easier...I tried it and nobody escaped. Thanks! :0) Phyl
liza070831
16 years ago
soapy water works fine for me but I am going to try covering with net. Joannes is having a sale on nylon net reg. $1.29 for 49 cents a yard. Might fake them out for a little while. We'll see. Ellie
jmorris271 Morris
16 years ago
I keep a gal pale under a bush near my rose bed that has a squirt of Palmolive Dish Det. in the water. Every day, I agitate the water to get suds up. The beetles fall in but they dont get out. They die quickly.
I did try some Muriatic Acid once and found the buggers swimming around 5 mins later!
john_az
16 years ago
To each his own.I used the soapy water for years .I took an old cool whip container ,put two squirts of dish soap and about an inch of water ( never really had bubbles,just suds) No more.I now take an old windex bottle .mix a batch of isotox and fill bottle.I now just give the JBS a squirt ,in a matter of minutes they drop dead.works great ,easier than dropping them in soap.

Soapy vs. boiling hot water for JBs?

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buford

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Soapy vs. boiling hot water for JBs?

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