OK All, I have a Pest Control/Gardening Question...

08 Mar 2012 | US Navy Vet

[US Navy Vet]

Has anyone EVER used nemotodes or Milky Spore to control Japanese Beetles and/or Flea Larva?

[mikey_hates_everything]

“I use Talstar One. It kills everything.”

Second that! And sticks around for months continuing to kill all insects—not plants. Get the good stuff on eBay.

[wtd]

Yes, I have used milky spore on a well established flowering plum tree. They have a reputation for attracting Japanese beetles and this prolific fruit tree suffered terribly from Japanese beetle infestation.

The milky spore takes time to take effect and it does prove effective, however, my poor plum tree immediately succumbed to a severe black knot infection.

Don't know if the beetles had anything to do with the black knot, but I miss the annual harvest of tart plums which I used for hungarian plum dumplings (Szilvás Gombóc) .

[momtothree]

For consideration for the gardening ping list.

[shotdog]

Milky spore works better in warmer climes. It is virtually useless in the northern tier. Nematodes would likely work most anywhere.
I live in the North. I use a mason jar containing a couple inches of water and a few drops of detergent to catch the beetles I knock off the leaves. The detergent reduces the surface tension so the beetles sink. The practice seems to keep the population at manageable numbers. Hope this helps. sd

[martin_fierro]

I tried a napalm airstrike once. Not recommended.

[UB355]

Last summer I tried a mix of dish soup, water, and hot sauce in a spray bottle. I was pleased with the results.

[fullchroma]

Got rid of the moles as well, when their food source was gone.

That's good to hear! I have a large bag of the stuff and I suppose I should get started. Did you just follow the basic instructions on the bag?

[Gaffer]

For Japanese Beetles, go buy one of those yellow bags, bait and metal stick you jam in the ground. Next, go plant it somewhere in your neighbor’s yard he’s not likely to notice.

[fullchroma]

I LOVE diatomaceous earth and use it everywhere: wood pile, crawl space, attic, storage boxes, under pet beds and behind any new construction.

Did you know that diatomaceous earth, milky spores and snail bait are the exact same stuff, just in different sizes for different uses.

[jtonn]

I believe the Dirt Doctor knows his stuff. If you use chemicals to kill everything, more than likely something harmful will move in to take over the niche. You’re better off promoting beneficial organisms that crowd out the harmful ones.

This link describes the difference between beneficial nematodes and the harmful ones.

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Beneficial-Nematodes_vq2139.htm

[BuffaloJack]

Back in the 50s, Admiral Byrd, who was my parents’ landlord, used to hang up empty milk bottles that had a slick funnel stuck in their mouths. The funnels contained a japanese beetle phermone. The admiral was protecting the roses in his garden (Anapolis, MD). I used to get a half dollar a week to empty the bottles, most of which were at least half full of beetles each time I emptied them.
I have no idea if these things are still available, but they worked like a marvel.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Dynamite works well for me..........

[FatherofFive]

yes. I bought a dispenser that puts down the right amount of the Milky Spores in a pattern accross the lawn. It is not immediate, but after 3 years I am june bug free,

And mole free.

[fullchroma]

Thanks for the info. I’m encouraged. We have so many moles in our yard it’s hazardous to walk around; the earth sinks under the pressure of almost every step!