Insect Update: Japanese Beetles, Lawn Ants, And Yellowjackets

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• Japanese Beetles Once Again Eating Wisconsin Plants, According To Entomologist

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  Japanese beetles have been active for the past month in Wisconsin, defoliating birch trees, linden trees, roses, and other plants, according to entomologist Phil Pellitteri.

  Some areas of the state have seen fewer Japanese beetles than in previous years, while others are likely to see more in the near future, Pellitteri said.

  “The unfortunate part is that I do know that there are some parts of the state where (beetles are) still moving into, and then you get this five or six year minimum build up. They just seem to get worse and worse,” he said.

  What’s worse, Pellitteri said, is that the destructive insects are essentially unstoppable because they migrate from so far away.

  “No matter what you do to your plants, there are more coming,” he said. “And you can’t stop them from the source in those cases. So it’s a very frustrating insect.”

  Since trying to get rid of the beetles is no longer an option, Pelliterri said, the only thing to do is to slow them down. He said systemic insecticides can work as treatment for trees, but they don’t protect flowers from defoliation.

  Pellitteri explained that both organic and conventional products provide about five days’ worth of protection. However, with the Japanese beetles flying around for two months, the upkeep of treatments becomes very high maintenance for any gardener to deal with.

  “In some cases, I think people have changed some of the things that they plant just because they don’t want to put up the battle,” Pelliterri said.