Gardening in MWV & the Surrounding Areas

[GardenAssociates.com]

Mark L. Hutchinson is the UNH Cooperative Extension Agent for Carroll County. He provides education and information on a wide variety of agricultural and environmental topics. Help is provided to commercial agriculturalists, lake associations,
homeowners, communities, groups, organizations and agencies.



Hi Mark,

Besides maintaining my own garden I maintain three others and in every garden I have seen the dreaded Japanese beetles. This year I have noticed that some of the beetles have white egg sacs glued just out of reach on top of their heads. Could this be a predator's egg? At first I thought it was a pollen sac, but I noticed the egg sacs on others at each of the gardens I have been maintaining here in Jackson and I decided to take a closer look with my 10X. I then noticed the adhesive around the egg sac. I have included a few digital photos I snapped of a subject with eggs. If you are unable to help me, could you refer me to someone who can? Thank you, Naomi Buckman


Naomi, I have sent your message to our specialist, Alan Eaton is our entomologist. Please drop me a note if you have questions. Cheers, Mark


Naomi, This is the response I received from Alan. Good Job!


Dear Mark:

She gets the coveted Careful Observer award for this week! The beetles
have been parasitized by a tachinid fly. The fly lays an egg on the body,
and the egg hatches and the grub directly pierces the body and feeds
internally. The beetle eventually dies. No common name, but I think this
was an oriental species introduced some time ago to control Japanese
beetle. parasitized beetles are most abundant early in their
emergence period. By August, they get harder to find. -Alan



Mark, That is great news! I am happy to know that a parasite is out their
working just as hard as I am to organically control the Japanese beetles.

UNH Cooperative Extension for Carroll County
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[Scarlet Pimpernel]

This might be helpful info for those who are battling the beetles.....I'll bump this topic so this it's at the top again.
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That damned elusive Pimpernel!

[GardenAssociates.com]

Wow, long time no post Scarlet.....
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