You Are Here: Management Updates 2003 Archive July 30, 2003

Date: July 30, 2003
Category: Insects
Subject: Beetle Adult Activity

Now that we are into that period of summer where we are seeing large numbers of Japanese beetle adults flying (at least in some locations), and some of you have been reporting large flights of European chafer adults, where can we expect them to be laying their eggs?

Keep in mind, first of all, that European chafer grubs normally do better in dry locations - sandy soils, unirrigated roughs of golf courses, south facing slopes. For those of you who have NOT experienced the heavy rains that hit some parts of New England last week, you can expect the chafers to show up in their usual places. If you did get heavy rains and are in an area that normally experiences damage from European chafers, you might find that the adults are looking for dry sites, and may be taking advantage of the higher spots that dry out more quickly following rain. So you may see them in "unusual" places this year... or not.

Meanwhile Japanese beetles prefer slightly higher soil moisture levels, so for those of you who have not experienced the heavy rains of last week, look for Japanese beetle grub populations to show up in some of the lower, wetter areas where the limited moisture is more likely to persist.

Just a guess for now - it is still too early to tell where the bulk of the oviposition will occur. But keep in mind that the "preventive" materials should be applied very soon, particularly if targeting European chafers or oriental beetles. And don't forget to water in any grub application!

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum