In Halifax, gardeners are facing challenges with Japanese beetles damaging their plants and crops, with varying opinions on effective control methods. Shawn Spurr, a long-time gardener in Dartmouth, noticed the beetles on his pea plants, which were severely damaged. He expressed frustration as the beetles have also affected his tomato plants, peppers, and potentially his potatoes.
Spurr highlighted that this year, the Japanese beetle infestation is the most severe he has encountered. The beetles, introduced as an invasive species nearly a century ago in Nova Scotia, have seen a recent population surge due to favorable winter survival conditions caused by climate change, as explained by entomology professor Paul Manning from Dalhousie University.
Manning noted that the beetle population is expanding, thriving in human-influenced environments where they find ample food sources. Despite the lack of natural predators to control their spread, Manning suggested that their activity peak is temporary, lasting a few weeks.
Regarding control methods, Manning cautioned against the use of insecticides in outdoor gardens, as they are ineffective. Pheromone traps attract but do not significantly reduce the beetle population. Instead, he recommended manually removing the beetles in the evening when they are less active and drowning them in soapy water, emphasizing this as the most practical and efficient approach.
While some may find hand-picking labor-intensive, Alexander Godfrey of Lakeland Plant World in Westphal suggested using pheromone traps strategically placed away from affected plants. Spurr shared his experience of initially hand-picking the beetles and later opting for a pheromone trap, noticing some improvement in reducing the beetle presence.
Manning highlighted that while the beetles are not yet a major concern for large-scale agriculture, vineyards and hops growers could be at higher risk. The ongoing challenge with Japanese beetles underscores the importance of proactive pest management strategies for gardeners in the Halifax area.
