Evening star., 1944-07-21
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceUeU.
ALEXANDRIA, Va.

Dear Sir
"The garden back Of our home here
in Alexandria is surrounded by high
hedge which is a favorite resort Of a
pair Of brown thrashers, in which We
have become much interested and which
are frequent visitors to the bird bath
that stands not far from a small rose
garden, within easy sight of our rear
windows.
Now, this same garden is very pop
ular with the Japanese beetles, with
whom we have been waging constant
and fairly successful warfare At least
We have had a continuance of bloom
which we have been able to enjoy dur
ing the early life of the blossoms and
before they have been eaten to shreds
during the hot hours when our energy
is necessarily somewhat relaxed.
This morning as we were watching
the thrashers at their bath one of them
few to the ground among the rose
bushes and began jumping up and pick
ing bugs from the flowers. He visited
three or four bushes in this way and
would frequently dart after and pick
up bug from the ground where it had
fallen after his attack on a particular
blossom
Nov, cannot be positive that these
were Japanese beetles that he was after.
but as they are the only insects I have
seen on the roses there is every reason
to believe that he was doing his share
in our fight for total determination of
these Nipponese invaders. At least we
gave him full credit for his assistance
and applauded roundly when he took
his bow from the edge Of the bird bath,
where ne had returned for drink
to wash down the well-earned meal
I'VE wonder if any of your other bird
lovers have had similar experiences.
Very sincerely. w. D. G."
This column has had reports of Jap
anese beetles being eaten by thrashers,
f1ickers, starlings and English sparrows
There is little doubt that this taste
for these beetles is increasing among
the bird population.
In time we may expect to see other
species taking an interest in such alien
food. When that day arrives We may
lay aside our beetle traps.
Until then the traps are the best de-
tense we have, but 1t is amazing how
many home owners are afraid to use
them, on the mistaken belief that they
attract the pests.
They do, of course, attract japanese
beetles-that Is what they are for-but
only those specimens which are in the
immediate neighborhood anyway.
1t is merely another phase of ap-
peasement to hope that the japanese
beetles in ones neighbor's yard will not
come into ones own If one keeps very
quiet and does nothing to attract them!
Like all appeasement, as proved time
after time during the past five years, it
simply doesn't work.
The thing to do Is to get traps and
attend to them. Placement Is supposed
to be best in the open, but we have
found the catch equally large when
traps are stood right among the plants
being attacked.
Japanese beetles drop into the traps
between 10 o'clock In the morning and
o'clock in the afternoon. This Is their
flying time.
Usually there are scores of them in the
vicinity Of the trap, which have not vet
gone in, and these may be assisted to
commit hari-kari by a well-directed
thumb and forefnger.
Why they cannot fly up out of the
traps is something of a mystery, but
they can't The danger comes when the
bottom container-a glass jar is best
Is emptied. If given half chance,
many OF them will fly away, since the
trap fumes do not kill but merely stun
them.
The trapped beetles are best emptied
at once into a wide -mouthed paper
bag, and the whole placed Immediately
on the fire. Provide plenty Of fuel be-
meath and especially above, because If
you do not many of them will be able
to ny out Of the flames. The crisp fry
ing OF the Japanese beetles may be
heard all over the yard. and the result
Ing ashes should make good FERTILIZER.