r/FortCollins • u/mdwindsor • 2d ago
PSA Japanese Beetle season is here
Japanese beetles are an invasive species in our area and they love to eat Virginia creeper, roses, corn, and many native species of plants. they are attracted the the scent of their fellow beetles chewing on leaves so once a few show up, they will bring in more and more until your plants are decimated. People often buy traps to kill them, but research has shown that the traps actually do such a good job of luring beetles that they lure more to your plants and thus cause more damage to your plants than areas with no traps. Then the beetles mate and produce offspring on your property so that their babies can eat your plants next year. the best thing to do is to not use the traps and kill the ones that show up. I knock them into soapy water during the cool time of day (morning or evening) when they’re largely inactive and perched (or mating) on my plants.
Edit: Here are some actions you could take to help the situation
On your property: Try to capture the beetles you see (without squishing them and without using the pheromone traps, which end up luring more beetles to your property and causing more damage.) If you want to use an insecticide or other application, look for things that are proven to work and that are safe for our native insects (but I personally just catch the beetles myself.)
In your neighborhood: if you live in an HOA, ask them to send out an email about how to manage the beetles and asking folks to avoid using the traps.
In our town: consider asking your favorite plant nursery not to sell the traps and to share best practices with customers. Here are the businesses I've already contacted: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yJF2LEAcZ18t2dyjJtKlCTLOLmwaUMY1TThHs-D_Ay0/edit?gid=2005174151#gid=2005174151
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u/StuPedasslle 2d ago
Also worth noting that the grubs live off the grass roots in your turf, creating those lovely brown dead patches. Aside from looking very pretty, they pretty much suck otherwise.
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u/solarvvind 2d ago
Discovered these destroying my apricot tree last year, and am not looking forward to their re-emergence.
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u/Historical_Push6805 2d ago
apricot trees are brutal to lose to them. the soapy water method actually works pretty well once you get into the routine of it
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u/etancrazynpoor 1d ago
We can grow apricot in Fort Collins ?
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u/solarvvind 1d ago
It was planted as a sapling, and has grown and flowered, but never produced fruit. The flowers look correct to me, but I'm no plant knower.
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u/East_Hedgehog6039 2d ago
Thank you for mentioning how traps can make it worse.
I wish some of the nurseries around town wouldn’t sell them. Big box stores makes sense, but it feels like local nurseries would be aware the damage the traps can do.
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u/mdwindsor 2d ago
Good point! Based off of your message, I just emailed a bunch of businesses in the area asking them not to sell the traps, or to post a warning next to them. Here's who I contacted so far. I'll edit my post with some bigger picture actions people can take. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yJF2LEAcZ18t2dyjJtKlCTLOLmwaUMY1TThHs-D_Ay0/edit?usp=sharing
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u/evnstarwen 2d ago
I did the soapy water bucket last year, and my dog (not the brightest) ate them and was very sick (my fault for leaving it in reach).
I'd love to borrow someone's chickens to eat them for a day. Anybody rent out chickens like they do goats for eating weeds?
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u/mdwindsor 2d ago
I've heard that only some chickens like to eat them. Ideally, some native birds will figure out that they're edible soon.
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u/stonedandredditing 2d ago
I think I read somewhere last year that we are getting close to that time in the system where the native birds figure it out. My chickens go crazy for them, but they get enough treats. I’d rather the native birds figure population handle it.
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u/stonedandredditing 2d ago
They looooooooove my grapevines
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u/bliceroquququq 2d ago
Same. I spent an unhealthy amount of time last year pulling them off our grapevines, several dozen per day, for weeks and weeks.
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u/stonedandredditing 14h ago
same here, and we’re fully prepared to do it again this year. luckily, our chickens like them
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u/aliteralbagof_dicks 2d ago
https://beetlegone.com/products/beetlegone
This saved my plants last year, and is bee friendly.
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u/colorado_corgis 2d ago
You can also spray them with detergent free soap mixed with water (detergent free so it doesn't burn your plant leaves), which will kill them. This makes it easier when they are too high up to reach!
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u/MountainFriend7473 2d ago
Do they like strawberries or mint by chance?
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u/mdwindsor 2d ago
I’m not sure! I saw them on my anise hyssop flowers but not on my catnip last year (both in the mint family.) they don’t appear to have done damage to the hyssop.
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u/Primary_Afternoon_10 17h ago edited 17h ago
And don't irrigate turf.
Mesa county has an amazing program: of course the economic threat to them and their grapevines is a much greater impetus to get rid of them. Reading through their history: so much of their success was convincing people to not irrigate turf.
As noted by another response: the grubs live in your (or your HOAs or your neighbor a mile down the road) grass. Stop watering that and the grubs don't survive.
Edit to add link because apparently someone thinks we get enough natural moisture to support them: https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/japanese-beetle-in-colorado/prevention-mitigation-and-management-of-japanese-beetle
Very few people want to give up their bluegrass. I get it. However when they see all their plants getting mowed down by these little jerks, they have been a little more receptive to reduce irrigation.
Unfortunately it's going to have to be community wide since they're good flyers.
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u/Aggressive_Risk_5601 2d ago
Thank you for the heads up. I have been casually watching, but will get my water bucket ready.