Hello Charlie,
i am taking the liberty of extracting some info from the internet.
Japanese beetles are one of the most annoying and destructive pests in the northeastern United States. Accidentally introduced to the country in 1916, the Japanese beetle thrives in the northeast's climate and lack of a natural predator. The beetle has also expanded into the south and midwest.
The peak of Japanese beetle season is 4 to 6 weeks after they emerge in late June. The average life span of a beetle is 30 to 45 days.
The Japanese beetle is able to feed on about 300 varieties of plant. They eat leaves, overripe fruit, and flowers. Particular favorites include the Japanese maple tree, hollyhock, Norway maple, horse chestnut, and gray birch.
Most of the destruction associated with Japanese beetles stems from the fact that they feed in groups. Most active on bright days, a group of beetles can devour a plant from top to bottom in very little time. The beetle eats the tissue between the veins of leaves. Early signs of destruction are a leaf that looks skeletal or like lace. Soon, the beetles will eat more and more of the leaves until none are left.
Most people try to fight the Japanese beetle by using traps to catch them. However, according to research from the University of Kentucky, beetle traps actually attract more beetles than they catch. Even though it is difficult, one recommended remedy is hand-collecting and then destroying the beetles. The best way to collect the beetles is by shaking them off the leaves in the morning when they are most sluggish.
The best method that i have found is to pick them off the plant in the morning and drop then in a can of kerosene.
all they do is to eat and mate, sometimes at the same time
here are some photos to show you what they look like. i hate these little creeps.
louis
