🧵🌱 THREAD: Japanese Beetle and/or lawn grub nightmare? Horticulturist here with a solution that actually works, and the time to act is now. After 15 years watching these monsters destroy gardens, I'm begging you to stop wasting money on those useless traps! They only ATTRACT more beetles! [1/5] - ThreadSky

iancapstick.bsky.social • 42 days ago

🧵🌱 THREAD: Japanese Beetle and/or lawn grub nightmare? Horticulturist here with a solution that actually works, and the time to act is now. After 15 years watching these monsters destroy gardens, I'm begging you to stop wasting money on those useless traps! They only ATTRACT more beetles! [1/5]

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iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

[2/5] The ONLY effective approach: Attack Popillia japonica underground now! Apply Heterorhabditis bacteriophora nematodes aka: Larvanem when soil consistently stays above 10°C day AND night. These microscopic predators hunt down grubs before they can emerge and devastate your plants.

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

[3/5] Application:
• Mix Larvanem in lukewarm water (NEVER hot - you'll kill your new bug friends!)
• REMOVE all filters from your sprayer (crucial!)
• Apply evenings/cloudy days when UV won't kill nematodes
• Water before & after application
• Keep solution agitated while spraying

llainiec.bsky.social•42 days ago

Zone 5. After knocking THOUSANDS of these beasts of my rose hedge last year, I was wondering when I need to do this. Thanks for the reminder.

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

Try basil no less than ~10 meters away as a cover crop; they will like it more than the roses. Good luck!

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

[4/5] How to spot them now: White C-shaped larvae, 15-25mm when mature (3rd instar), brownish head. Look for the V-shaped anal opening with parallel rows of spines on underside - that's your Japanese beetle grub! Spring is perfect for targeting overwintered 3rd instars.

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

[5/5] For the love of your garden, FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTIONS EXACTLY! These are living organisms! And remember: one application isn't a forever fix - consistent management beats these pests. Your plants will thank you! #SustainableHorticulture #IPM 🌱

fbdierama.bsky.social•42 days ago

Thank you for sharing this information!

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

Bonus, my Canadian source for Larvanem: https://retail.koppert.ca/products/larvanem-hc

queeva.bsky.social•42 days ago

They lay their eggs on the surface,i remove them by hand,if they get to the grub stage i leave a few because they are so beautiful.🥰💚🌱

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

Monsters. I have no mercy. The dead adults have, however, been used in costuming and fashion for a very long time.

queeva.bsky.social•42 days ago

Yes it's horrible,I saw someone wearing something like that in a brooch in North Africa.Theres no such thing as monsters in the animal kingdom, it's the humans that are the monsters.

queeva.bsky.social•42 days ago

Monsters 🤣🤣🤣

anndouglas.bsky.social•42 days ago

Thanks for posting such an informative thread. We're going to be applying our nematodes this week. (Just waiting for consistently warm enough temperatures at night.) There used to be a classic 1970s women's magazine column called "Can this marriage be saved?" New twist: "Can this lawn be saved?"😂

maggieliz.bsky.social•42 days ago

for folks with poultry, y'all can attract the beetles away from others and feed your hens at the same time

iancapstick.bsky.social•42 days ago

Chickens and a large spot of vegetation free land, this could be a nightmare in an urban backyard with chickens.

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