JAPANESE BEETLE

A, Mature grub in spring feeding on roots in underground burrow. B, Pupa in underground cell. C, Adult beetle emerged from earth. D, Beetles feeding on smart-weed. E, Beetles feeding on grape leaves. F, Beetles feeding on apple leaves. G, Female beetle depositing eggs in soil at bottom of shallow burrow. H, Egg. I, Egg hatching and young grubs. J, Partly grown grub in fall.

JAPANESE BEETLE

Japanese beetles are destructive to the leaves, blossoms, and fruits of more than 275 plants, shrubs, and trees. In 1952 they were widely distributed in States along the Atlantic seaboard from Massachusetts to South Carolina. They occurred also at scattered points in adjoining States and through much of the Midwest east of the Mississippi. The grubs feed in the ground on the roots of various plants and often cause serious damage to turf in lawns, parks, golf courses, pastures, and other turf areas.

Japanese beetles spend about 10 months as grubs in the soil. In late May or early June the grubs stop feeding and go through a short resting, or pupal, stage, after which they become beetles. The adults dig their way out of the soil. By early July they are flying about in numbers and feeding on trees and plants. During July and August the females periodically go into the ground and lay eggs.

Control: The foliage of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants can be protected from beetle attack with the following sprays:

1. DDT (50 percent wettable powder), 3 ounces (16 tablespoonfuls); water, 10 gallons (for fruit and shade trees, shrubs, and flowering plants).

2. Lead arsenate, 10 ounces (30 tablespoonfuls); wheat flour, 6 ounces (24 tablespoonfuls), or light-pressed fish oil, 2 1/2 fluid ounces (5 tablespoonfuls); water, 10 gallons (for shade trees and shrubs).

3. Powdered derris (4 percent rotenone), 5 ounces (30 tablespoonfuls); water, 10 gallons (for apple, plum, cherry, and peach trees, grapes, and small fruits when fruit is about to ripen, and flowering plants).

If spray equipment is not available, apply a 5 percent DDT dust or hydrated dusting lime. Apply the spray or dust when the beetles first appear. Repeat as needed to maintain a protective coating on all parts of the plant subject to attack, until the beetles disappear. Dusts must be applied more often than sprays.

Lawns can be protected from injury by the grubs for at least 6 years with one application of DDT, for at least 3 years with one application of chlordane, and indefinitely with one application of milky disease spore dust. If enough grubs are present to cause noticeable turf injury, use one of the insecticides. They are faster in action than milky disease, which usually takes two or more years to become fully effective. Use 6 pounds of a 10 percent DDT powder or 2 1/4 pounds of a 10 percent chlordane powder to each 1,000 square feet of lawn. Mix the material with several times its volume of slightly moist sand, soil, or other inert material, and apply evenly to the lawn with a garden-type fertilizer distributor or by hand. Wash the material in with a hose.

Do not spray fruits with DDT or lead arsenate later than 4 weeks before picking. Scrub or peel sprayed or dusted fruits or vegetables before eating them.