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To: Paul R.

Do you have chickens? They LOVE Japanese Beetles. They are the only predator those jerks have!

I usually have mine on the grapes, but I haven’t seen any so far this season. Hopefully, with all the rain we have had, they drowned in the ground while in their larval phase. Hope Springs Eternal!


162 posted on 07/06/2025 6:33:53 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
House finches and sparrows like to eat Japanese Beetles! The finches like to hang out and on my plum trees and chase them.

"What Birds Eat Japanese Beetles? (And Clean Up Your Garden) - birdertopia.com

June 28, 2023 - Ducks and wild turkeys are known to feed on the grubs as well, while bluebirds, catbirds, and the common grackle enjoy feasting on adult beetles. House sparrows, purple martins, and various species of finches are among other bird species that will gladly ....."

Japanese Beetles equal free poultry feed!

**I will not use the traps anymore. I think that the attractant just brings more onto your property! Of course, if you are looking for chicken food more of them may be a good solution! (I do not have chickens!)

168 posted on 07/06/2025 2:00:18 PM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission ( )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Yes on the (free range) chickens, which is likely why we’ve not had serious problems with Japanese beetles in recent years.

I can’t let the chickens go into the garden area(s) of course, so, we do see strays, plus stink bugs and a variety of other garden attackers. Any I can catch, the chickens get. But, I often have to resort to Sevin spray or dust.

It’s funny to watch the chickens eat a stink bug. They down it so fast it can’t “stink” them.

Speaking of “quick”, we just got a hard quick shower. It popped up out of “nowhere” (6 minutes from one light aqua spec on radar, to a red “blob” on top of us), dumped over half an inch on us in 10 minutes, and then moved off, dying. I got soaked running out to close car windows... It looks like almost all this week onward is going to be wet - hopefully not as bad as most of May and June!


173 posted on 07/06/2025 4:14:04 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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