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Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

Last year I kept finding dead japanese beetles all around the bottom of my red geraniums. I started doing some research as to why lately and found out that the geraniums are toxic to the beetles! One of the articles said that they are really attracted to the white flowered ones the most.

What a great natural pest control method! Feed the butterflies and kill the beetles without harsh chemicals and have beautiful flowers all summer, you can't beat that!

This year I encourage everyone to PLANT MORE GERANIUMS!

Here is just one of the many articles about this and I know it works from all the dead beetles I had last year!
http://turf.lib.msu.edu/1920s/1929/290471A.pdf

3/21/2007 5:57:09 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I also happen to like the way they look. Especially some of the new cascading variegated cultivars. We grow them in hanging baskets & pots. Cool post! Thanks!

3/21/2007 10:48:21 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

The more research I do, it seems as though it only kills about a third of the beetles that eat them. The other two thirds of the beetles are doped up in a paralyzed state for approximately 8 hours. Long enough to collect them twice a day and drown them in soapy water! The sun also helps to increase kill percentage. Those that eat and lay around in the shade will probably live to eat again where as those that eat from plants in full sun will be much more likely die.

They seem to like the stupor and will eat some more as soon as they wake up and pass out again. They can't mate when they're unconcious so even if you don't have time to collect the bodies and drown them, at least they won't be reproducing as fast.

Kinda like heroine for japanese beetles LOL!

3/21/2007 11:07:50 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Great info, Nasturtiums (might be mis-spelled) are really good for insect control also.

Kirk

3/22/2007 6:09:23 AM

Long Island,New York

Lauralie1078....are you sure you're not confusing beetles with my college roomate from way back when?

"The other two thirds of the beetles are doped up in a paralyzed state for approximately 8 hours. Long enough to collect them twice a day and drown them in soapy water! The sun also helps to increase kill percentage. Those that eat and lay around in the shade will probably live to eat again where as those that eat from plants in full sun will be much more likely die.

They seem to like the stupor and will eat some more as soon as they wake up and pass out again. "

3/22/2007 4:46:40 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

LI, where did you go to school, I almost think that we were in the same dorm??? LOL Peace, Wayne

3/22/2007 9:00:37 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

lol!

3/22/2007 11:20:41 PM