Barron of Blog Wife, Kids, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Invasion of the Japanese Beetle

I found this little critter on a red maple in our backyard tonight. He and a few thousand of his buddies are making mincemeat out of anything with purple or red leaves.

Shannon's purple flowers are completely gone and our reddish trees and bushes are beginning to look like swiss cheese. I'll be picking up some Sevin (carbaryl) on my way home from work tomorrow. The pesticide does not last for very long: I'll need to re-spray every 7-10 days (or anytime it rains). I'll also need to watch the aphid and mite populations because over-application of Sevin can lead to overpopulations of those pests.

Homeownership: Educational and Fun!