Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Japanese beetle trap

I had a fella tell me that he used a japanese beetle trap, without the bag, over the water, and when the beetles would slide through and hit the water, different species of fish would eat them. Has anyone tried this? I wasn't sure if LMB ate japanese beetles....I wonder about RES?

Interesting, gets the wheels turning as to "does it work?"...

Never used a trap like that before. Seen 'em, but never really looked at it. I thought the concept was the beetle stays trapped because its in a bag. If the bag wasn't on there, wouldn't a good majority just start to fly away as they drop?

...and as a kid, I remember trying them as bait, like everything else I could get my hands on took a dunk for experimenting. Never continued doing so, I'm guessing because it wasn't the best option.

It will be interesting to see what others may think.....

Once the BG and LMB know what's coming, they will be there waitiing for Japanese beetles. I know this from hand-collected beetles thown in my pond.

Fish n chips, once they land on the slick plastic, they slide down and tumble, at this point I think if I installed the trap 1 foot above the water, the beetles couldn't recover. "Whammy" the beetle smorgasboard begins!

I will follow up when they start to hatch. Hopefully, someone else has tried this.

Here's a great idea from an old thread

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=18641

I don't know if its central Ohio but I tried the bag over the water metehod three years ago. Drowned a lot of beetles but my fish didn't like them.

Then just kept an enclosed bag under the traps (near my wifes flowering trees and plants)and was filling probably a bag a day. Those little guys could tear up a tree or flower plant like you wouldn't believe.

Last two years, haven't had any problem with them. I'll probably get infested with them again after bragging about my success. .

Most studies on these traps indicate that you actually increase the local population and damage with these traps, but your nieghbors should appreciate you drawing their beetles away

We are willing to make that sacrifice for our pond, aren't we?

I love to watch the fish feed. I guess its just that I like watching wildlife in general, and its easier to watch fish near the surface.

RAH, do you think that since we got rid of twenty plus bags of j beetles, it could have affected their breeding in my area?

I don't think I've seen any (beetles) in the last couple years. Weather maybe?

My wifes plants and flowering trees have done great since they're not around anymore.

I still have another beetle trap and thought about putting it out to see if I caught any but I'm not going to tempt the beetles.

I heard best thing to do with those traps is give them too your neighbors as gifts to lower the local population.. THEN DON'T PUT ONE IN YOUR OWN YARD!!

Bluegillerkiller has the right idea. A soil fungus has taken its toll on Japanese beetle grubs in my area in the last few years.

RAH, I never considered a soil fungus.......Maybe,could be. But haven't seen a j beetle in two years. Plants and trees are doing great.......But June bugs are driving me (and the dogs) crazy. I usually keep the front porch light on at night but not now.

I need to find a June Bug trap or some big ole nice toads to get rid of them.

Control the grubs if you can