Beetles were chewing up the leaves of Jack’s trees, so he made traps large enough to catch thousands of beetles. Japanese beetles are not a type of ladybug or Asian beetle. They are a large species of scarab that is invasive and very damaging in North America. They have a metallic green-blue head with a copper/bronze back, tan-colored wings, and short white tufts of hair on either side of the abdomen.
Trap parts:
· 18-24” piece of 3” PVC pipe
· 4-foot fiberglass driveway marker stake
· Duct tape
· Pheromone/floral scent Japanese beetle bait refill cartridge – Rescue (R) brand available at Menards.
· Small bucket, i.e. ice cream container
Assembly:
1. Attach PVC pipe to fiberglass pole using duct tape. Position the PVC pipe on the pole so there is 6-10 inches of the pointed end of the fiberglass pole extending beyond the PVC pipe. This allows you to push the pole into the ground. Wrap duct tape around PVC pipe and fiberglass pole; 2-3 bands are sufficient to connect tube to rod. Leave 12 inches free of duct tape at the bottom of the PVC pipe.
2. Find a suitable location where there is Japanese beetle activity. Place small bucket containing 3-4 inches of sudsy water on the ground.
3. Take the PVC pipe/fiberglass rod and push the rod into ground ensuring the bottom end of the PVC pipe extends INTO the small bucket. The PVC pipe should rest about ½-inch above the surface of water in the bucket.
4. Open the Rescue(R) bait cartridge bag. Affix small diameter wire to the cartridge. Wrap the other end of the wire around fiberglass pole at the top of PVC pipe. Suspend bait cartridge about 4” below the top of the inside of the PVC pipe and centered inside the tube. If you want, put a funnel into the PVC pipe and suspend the bait below that.
5. Both male and female Japanese beetles will be attached to the smell of the cartridge. When the beetles try to reach the cartridge, they will slip and fall through the PVC tube into the sudsy water and drown.
6. Empty bucket as needed. Do not let the captured beetle foul because it is a stinky mess. Better to change often.
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