Japanese Beetles Found in Garden

Several gardeners have noticed Japanese beetles feeding in their plots. Above is a picture of a Japanese beetle that I took in my plot (plot 3). I have observed the beetles in our bush beans and the damage caused by adults is usually visible as leaf skeletonization. Japanese beetles attack a wide variety of hosts, but certain plants do repel them and planting such plants is once organic way to manage the pest. If you only have a few beetles in your plot, the best way to manage them is likely by hand picking and either squishing them or dropping them in soapy water. Below are links to some web pages that provide more information on managing Japanese beetles organically:

http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articles/frederick/2004/controling_j_beetles.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/DG7664.html (See the "Cultural Control" section for organic solutions)