Beetle control - Ask Extension
If I treat woodbine, which the Japanese beetles seem to love and I cannot get rid of in my hedge, with systemic insecticide will it kill the beetles? ...
Knowledgebase
Beetle control #671475
Asked August 01, 2020, 11:23 AM EDT
If I treat woodbine, which the Japanese beetles seem to love and I cannot get rid of in my hedge, with systemic insecticide will it kill the beetles? Or, have a worse effect of deterring them from the woodbine in preference for my roses.
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello
Unfortunately the common woodbine, or Virginia creeper, is a favorite of Japanese beetles and they usually feast on the leaves until they are completely skeletonized. Fortunately, this plant has a barely visible flower in spring that turns into a small berry so you would be safe to use an insecticide that might otherwise be hazardous to bees. A very safe product that will affect the Japanese beetle but not harm other insects contains bacillus thuriengensis. There are several products with this ingredient and they are available at garden centers but not discount or big box stores. See link below for a comprehensive list of insecticides.
Another type of plant that is called woodbine is the common honeysuckle. If your plant has flowers like these, it is recommended that you use any of the insecticides that are less harmful to pollinators.
The insecticides that are listed are very effective in eliminating the Japanese beetles. It is doubtful that they would be deterred from the woodbine and relocate to your roses if they aren't already present on the roses.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/japanese-beetle-5-601/
Unfortunately the common woodbine, or Virginia creeper, is a favorite of Japanese beetles and they usually feast on the leaves until they are completely skeletonized. Fortunately, this plant has a barely visible flower in spring that turns into a small berry so you would be safe to use an insecticide that might otherwise be hazardous to bees. A very safe product that will affect the Japanese beetle but not harm other insects contains bacillus thuriengensis. There are several products with this ingredient and they are available at garden centers but not discount or big box stores. See link below for a comprehensive list of insecticides.
Another type of plant that is called woodbine is the common honeysuckle. If your plant has flowers like these, it is recommended that you use any of the insecticides that are less harmful to pollinators.
The insecticides that are listed are very effective in eliminating the Japanese beetles. It is doubtful that they would be deterred from the woodbine and relocate to your roses if they aren't already present on the roses.
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/japanese-beetle-5-601/
