Japanese Beetle
When my wife called me over to take a picture of a “really cool bug,” all I could think of was that she’s really changed since that day she yelled to me about a ladybug infestation, and how much she’s changed since then, looking at the beauty of the bug instead of the fact that it’s a bug.
So looking forward to taking a picture of some neat bug, I climbed the ladder and froze. I remembered laughing at the fact that she called two ladybugs an infestation, and realized that sometimes even just one of something can feel like a full-blown infestation.
See, when I was a kid I saw a swarm of Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) completely destroy my father’s newly planted garden. In minutes. I just planted a new garden in my backyard, a dozen feet from where this was spotted.
Aptly called the piranha of the insect world, a swarm of Japanese Beetles can strip a peach tree of all but pits and branches in 15 minutes according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. My tomato plants don’t stand a chance.
Thankfully, we’ve seen very few of these beetles in the area. I find them absolutely stunning to look at, and love the “Karate Kid” crane-kick position they often adopt, but can’t forget the absolute devastation I’ve seen them leave behind.
Their beauty is nothing when compared to the possibility of losing my tomatoes. I like my tomatoes.
I have to go. I’m JFargo, and I’ve got a garden to protect.
Slowly getting the site back onto an even keel. It's nice to get back into the old posting rhythm.
Brian L. said,
July 3, 2008 @ 9:09 am
Awesome picture, JFargo!
I am officially jealous.
Good luck protecting your garden, you’ll need it. I saw these things destroy my grandpa’s garden in about 5 minutes last year, it was ridiculous.
JFargo said,
July 3, 2008 @ 9:51 am
Thanks Brian, for both the compliment, and the luck. I know I’ll need it, those suckers can be mean.
It’s just not fair that they’re cool looking too, is it?
b13 said,
July 3, 2008 @ 10:22 am
Time to set up a beetle bag away from the garden… Excellent capture!
David Brady said,
July 3, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
Way cool, JFargo. Thanks for the picture and the post, they rock!
Beth said,
July 3, 2008 @ 3:38 pm
Who knew beetles could have fuzzy butts? Very cool!
You go protect those tomatoes!
Carletta said,
July 3, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
Awesome photo!
I found one this evening on my Boston Fern - squished him!
JFargo said,
July 4, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Thanks everyone for your kind words! This was really a lot of fun, and I’m glad everyone seems to have enjoyed it!
JTan said,
July 5, 2008 @ 8:04 am
Great photo and excellent write up! You, sir, rock.
John E. Loy said,
July 12, 2008 @ 9:08 am
I enjoyed reading your article on Japanese Beetles. I really was looking for something to kill the beetles. Do you have an answer? Thanks! John
Insect Picture of the Day » Cabbage Worm said,
July 23, 2008 @ 7:01 am
[...] there I was, prepared for the Japanese Beetle Invasion Force, quietly preparing my beetle traps to capture them before they could destroy my garden. I knew I [...]