Meet the Beetles? Not this year in at least one garden

By Thelma Dalmas
Published: July 22, 2008

Initially, I had hesitated to mention the fact that something miraculous seems to be taking place this summer in my yard.

I was afraid that if I actually said something about it, the good fortune would end and I’d be back in the same shape that I’m always in at this time of year. However, we are now approaching the end of July, and I still don’t have any Japanese beetles. For me, this is a real miracle.

Those of you who know me probably already realize that I’m just a little compulsive. I keep lists of the birds I’ve seen, the dates that the species appear in my yard, a record of when plants bloom and countless other odd bits of information. Since 2000, I’ve recorded the first date for Japanese beetles in my garden and the range is from June 10 through June 18.

Bizarre though it may seem, I also keep track of how many beetles I kill. This is not actually that difficult since I do not use any chemical means, but simply pick the little devils off my plants and drop them in soapy water. For the past seven years, I would eliminate between 100 to 200 Japanese beetles every day from late June through July using this method. 

Dispatching all of these hungry insects really didn’t seem to benefit my plants that much, but it did give me some satisfaction. In spite of my best efforts, by mid July all of my hibiscus were in shreds, and I rarely saw any mallows that were not riddled with the evidence of munching beetles. This summer has been different.

I spotted my first Japanese beetle on June 14, and felt that kind of hopeless resignation that always comes with the annual invasion. My mallows were just beginning to bloom, and I knew that once again I could give up all hope of seeing beautiful branches covered with delicate lavender flowers. I got my “bug jar” ready and prepared for the summer task of dealing with my enemy.

However, there is no enemy this year! At a time when I would normally be eliminating more than 100 beetles a day, I rarely find more than three or four. My hibiscus are beautiful, the mallows have almost finished blooming and not one was eaten, and the zinnias remain pest-free. I looked at my ornamental cherry tree today, which by this time is usually nothing more than a mass of lacy skeleton leaves, and I could see no evidence of any damage.

I don’t know whether I am alone in this good fortune, or whether other people are sharing in the blessed absence of Japanese beetles. Maybe the “gardening gods” are smiling on me this summer. Whatever has happened, I sure hope it continues next year.

News and Notes
Jim Lusk, of Forest, had commented on the lack of butterflies in the garden in early July. I also had low numbers then, but in the past week I’ve seen an increase. Today I noticed both tiger swallowtails and red-spotted purples in the yard.

Brenda Fitts, of Sweet Briar, sent a photograph of a house finch at her hummingbird feeder. Occasionally, other birds do visit hummingbird feeders. I have a chickadee who has learned to negotiate the bee guard, and I often see it taking a sip of sugar-water.