Japanese Beetles & My Fruit Cocktail Tree.

[Inkfreak]

My wife & I bought a fruit cocktail tree because it just looked neat. It's 2 yrs old now and just doing great. Lots if growth, looks healthy and we're in love.

However, these dang beetles are eating some of the tree like they're at an all-you-can-eat. It seems to be concentrated on a few particular limbs. I'm assuming they prefer that type of fruit.

Anywho... anyone know any tricks to keeping them off? I set up 2 of those beetle traps. The bags with the pheromones. But while they do collect a lot if them, by no means has it slowed them down. Suggestions would be awesome, thanks!

Apologies if this is in wrong forum. Typing this quickly before I go on my run. Lounge seemed like a good place to post.

[boston bean]

1. Can you reach the leaves and limbs?

If so, Neem Oil, may help you and keep them off your tree...

[Inkfreak]

7. It's only about 6ft tall. Maybe.

I'll give the Neem Oil a try. They are only affecting about 4-5 limbs atm. And I can reach those easily. I've not heard of that before, thanks!

[boston bean]

9. the bottoms and tops of the leaves will need a treatment.

I would do all leaves you can reach. they will just move to leaves that don't taste bad to them.

[hollysmom]

2. When my neighbors were away, I babysat their roses and before and after work

and would knock them off the leaves into a jar of soapy water.

But the easy way is to get the spores that you put on the grass to kill the larvae. I did that 20 years ago and have not had a problem since.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Make sure the beetle traps are far away from the tree.

Last edited Thu Aug 8, 2013, 08:01 PM - Edit history (1)

As far away as possible. If you have a small yard, don't use beetle traps.

I discovered through sad experience that the traps lure many more of them into my yard than would normally be there.

Best thing is to 3/4 fill a paper cup with water and a couple of drops of dish detergent, hold it close underneath whatever they are perched on, and tip them into the soapy water. Their instinct is to drop down to avoid capture. Keep hand-picking them like this and you'll see some reduction in their numbers.

[Inkfreak]

6. The traps are kinda close. I didn't figure on that.

We have about 5 acres, so I'll move them away. Thanks!

[NV Whino]

4. Frogs.

Lots of frogs.

[Inkfreak]

8. Funny you say that.

I have noticed an increase in frogs here this year. I live right next to a large swamp. Behind my house is a small enclosure for my dogs and its overrun with frogs. Ya literally can't step back there without sending dozens upon dozens jumping. It cracks me up because one of my dogs is scared of em, while the other two chase em. Too bad the lil buggers aren't eating the beetles. Or maybe they are, and I've got serious beetle problems.

[Denninmi]

5. Since it is small/young, could you cover it with some fine mesh?

Something along the lines of spunbond polyester row cover (most garden centers would have this)?

BTW, those are fun. I used to have a 5 on 1, apricot, peach, nectarine, Italian Prune and Japanese plum. As of two weeks ago, I lost the apricot, which leaves it now just an Italian Prune plum, as the others died off over the years one by one. But, very fun, I will probably get a couple of new ones next spring. Got a lot of good fruit off of that over the past 12-14 years. Fun novelty, too.

[surrealAmerican]

10. "fruit cocktail tree"?

Does it grow those mini-marshmallows? I guess this is probably a fruit tree with branches grafted to grow different kinds of fruit; I've just never heard it called that before.

I don't know a good solution for Japanese beetles either, sorry. They are peculiarly difficult pests.

[mainer]

11. guinea hens will devour those beetles

my son got a few dozen hens and they cleaned up the garden and surrounding pasture of all ticks and Japanese beetles. Plus they're fun to watch.