Rose of Sharon & Beeltes?

Question

Japanese Beetles are eating the leaves and flowers. I have tried the dish soap and water spray and Sevin bug killer. I just can't get rid of them. Any ideas??

Answer 1

Your attempts to control the Japanese Beetles with a "contact" insecticide are not the best route to go here. The exoskeleton of this pest is strong and impermeable. You need to attack them from the "inside" out. This means using a "systemic" insecticide one that will enter the foliage of the host plant and kill them from the inside. Go to Walmart, or Home Depot and purchase a product called "Orthene", made by "Ortho". It's one of the best systemic insecticides on the market, and will take care of the beetles. It is a stinky product however (smells like sulfur or rotten eggs) but will work well for you. Follow the application directions for spraying on the foliage. It will be absorbed by the plant and stay readily available in the cell structure for 3 to 4 weeks. Hope this answers your question. Good luck!
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Lawn_and_Garden-Pest_Control-All-Ortho_Orthene_Systemic_Insect_Control
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-review-12E1-4E07407-39F983D7-prod1

Added info: for the answerer below... Ortho still makes products with orthene besides fire ant killer. Infact the product you call "systemic insect killer" is in fact "Orthene". Orthene is the trade name, and the common name is "acephate" The systemic you mention, contains 8.0% acephate which is the killing ingredient that destroys the nervous system of insects. The same ingredient found in Orthene. Ortho just changed the name to comply with EPA labeling standards. You still can buy Orthene where I'm from however.


**Billy Ray**

Answer 2

Pattie,

Dish soap works as a contact insecticide that primarily affects soft bodied insects. It will have little to no affect on a hard bodied insect like Japanese Beetle nor does it have any residual benefit.

Sevin is an insecticide that is effective on Japanese Beetles when applied according to the label and has a residual effect. What you will find with sevin is that it must be reapplied after it has been washed from your Rose of Sharon by rain water or overhead irrigation. Also, it breaks down in the sunlight; therefore, it must be reapplied every 5-7 days. Consider a second application per the label.

I must caution against the use of Orthene. The only product sold today by Ortho with Orthene is Ortho® Orthene® Fire Ant Killer1. This product is NOT labeled for the control of Japanese Beetles. To do so is a violation of federal law.
http://www.ortho.com/index.cfm/event/ProductGuide.product/documentId/8fcd3c1758a23cf552ff54f79075b601

Next year consider the use of a systemic like imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Rose & Shrub Care). This is a product legally labeled for the control of Japanese Beetle. You apply it to the roots of your Rose of Sharon 2 months before the Japanese Beetles hatch in your area. Imidacloprid is absorbed by the plant's roots and translocated to the leaves. Any Japanese Beetle that takes a bit will die. This product is safe and does not need to be reapplied every time it rains. Nor does it break down in the sunlight while its in the plant leaf.

Ortho also makes a systemic labeled for Japanese Beetle control called: Ortho® Systemic Insect Killer Concentrate. This product evidently works as a contact spray, killing any Japanese Beetles on your plants when sprayed. Its also suppose to be a systemic that is absorbed by the plant foliage; giving you a residual knock-down of Japanese Beetles. I've not tried this prodcut yet, but it may be worth your attention.

Answer 3

okay here goes and this is a ringer it works !!! mix equal pts dish liquid with equal pts of listerine in a spray bottle . It works like a charm . good luck .