Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine

Dave Shetlar noted that if the season progresses without a serious drought, WHITE GRUBS should enjoy a good year with high populations. Dave reported that high numbers of adult MASKED CHAFERS have been caught in his light trap and that JAPANESE BEETLES have been reported in several locations. Landscapers and gardeners should be on the look-out for evidence of skeletonized leaves on some of the favorite foods of Japanese beetles, including roses, wild grape vines, linden trees, and flowering cherry. However, Japanese beetles tend to hide before and during rainfall, and may not be seen unless someone looks for them intently. Stay tuned for updates!

Meanwhile, turfgrass areas that have a history of grub damage should be targeted with preventative applications of one of the neonicotinoid insecticides such as imidacloprid (e.g. Merit), halofenozide (e.g. Mach 2), clothianidin (e.g. Arena), or thiamethoxam (e.g. Meridian). Using any of these products now will reduce the grubs, as well as many other turfgrass feeding insects.

For more information, see:

• Ohio State University Fact Sheet on Japanese Beetle
• Ohio State University Fact Sheet on Masked Chafers
• Ohio State University Fact Sheet on Mgmt. of Turfgrass Pests, Weeds, Diseases and Insects