seb@mtgzy.UUCP (s.e.badian) (04/22/86)
A while ago someone asked about milky spores and the control of japanese beetle grubs. The following is quoted from the Rodale Press's 'The Organic Way of Plant Protection' published in 1966. "Perhaps the most widely known means of safe control for the Japanese beetle is milky spore disease, developed in 1933. This is a bacterial organism that produces a fatal disease in the grub." "... because it is present naturally throughout the soils of Japan, this milky disease germ is the main reason that Japanese beetles are kept fully in check in their native territory." "When it [milky spores produced in the lab] was added to the grub infested soil in 14 states in an initial testing, the beetle killing results proved astonishing." "It [milky spore disease] is cumulative; that is, it continues and spreads itself. Ordinarily, only a single application is required for lasting control and protection. The disease powder kills only Japanese beetles and a few of their close beetle relatives. It is totally harmless to the soil, to benefical insects, bees, earthworms, all plants, animals, and humans. It is not affected by weather extremes, by cold, heat, rains, drought. All the gardener does is apply a teaspoonful of the spore disease powder on his grass or sod in spots 3 to 4 feet apart and in rows the same distance apart." "It can be applied at any time except when the ground is frozen or when it is windy. Recommended for treatment are only mowed and cropped areas. A pound of spore powder will treat about 4,000 square feet of turf for moderately good results (up to 60% kill within 12 months) and, of course, continued and increasing protection. Higher application rates bring even greater results in less time. Authorities agree that the spore disease control averages 80 to 90% in overall effectiveness." Sounds pretty good to me. Sure sounds cheaper than applying pesticides to the lawn to kill the little buggers. And those beetle traps attract more beetles than they kill! (Never, ever place one near your roses. They'll tear your roses to shreds!) Sharon Badian ihnp4!mtgzy!seb