Last year, we kept finding these really cool, metallic, shiny beetles floating in the pool. Before too long, I noticed that the ornamental plumb tree next to the pool was infested, within a week, there was not a leaf left on the tree. I found out later that these critters are the notorious Japanese Beetle - or commonly known in this part of the country as the Jitter Bug. I would gladly trade the slugs we had in Washington for these nasty bugs. I have never seen such destruction. It looks as if we are under attack again this year. Our shrubs and my flowers WERE swarming with them. I purchased the bug bags that attract them by using floral scent and pheromones (they think they are going to get a little action). In reality, they fall into the bag and suffocate. The bad thing is, you have to clean the bags out each day or the scent of dead Jitter Bugs will deter new ones from the trap. The pictures below are from 3 bags, in one, single, day... The boys want to collect them all summer and count how many we caught. Tania is not thrilled to say the least by the "India Bees" (she isn't too good with insect names).
