![]() That is attributable to the tons of work done by scientists who individually and artificially infected Japanese beetle grubs with the bacterium. Japanese beetles have experienced a significant drop in population since the 1940s when gardeners and landowners were advised to apply milky spore in powder form. Eventually, the grubs infected with milky spore die, spreading the spores throughout concentrated populations. ![]() At 2 to 3 weeks the milky spore populates the Japanese beetle larvae enough for the back end of the grub to turn white. Eventually, the spores move into the hemolymph of the beetle larvae, a place rife with the sustenance this spore loves.Īs the larvae grow and develop, the milky spore continues to infect its body. The spores begin to proliferate within the gut of the Japanese beetle larvae at 2 days and reach peak production at 3 to 5 days. As Japanese beetle larvae feed on grass roots and the roots of other garden flora, they ingest spore content. popilliae live in soil where yeast, casein, and other amino acids and sugars are available. Other organic insecticides attack grubs, but they are not of this particular strain of bacterium. It is not effective against other damaging grubs. Today, it’s used by homeowners to control infestations of the Japanese beetle, and other grubs too.īut this bacterium is specific to Japanese beetle larvae, grubs, and adult beetles. This became commercially available in 1948 when landowners would apply milky spore en masse. They then isolated a bacterium called Paenibacillus popilliae, which is the pathogen that causes milky spore disease.Ī spore powder was developed from the bacteria that cause milky spore disease. They attributed the whiteness with what is commonly known as milky spore disease. Scientists studying the insect invasion discovered Japanese beetle grubs with white tails. In the 1930s, Japanese beetles demolished ornamental plants and crops across the United States, so much so that a solution was needed on a national scale. Let’s explore that! What Is Milky Spore Powder? Milky spore powder or granules have been in use for about eighty years. Milky spore was developed specifically to combat these damaging pests.īut what exactly is milky spore, and what is the best way to apply milky spore? Is it a specific organic control, or does it affect other animals as many other insecticides do? What are the advantages and trade-offs of using milky spore in your garden and lawn? Then they burrow, lay eggs, and their offspring (grubs) eventually feed below. Japanese beetles (especially adult beetles) take little time to eat up grass roots, actively feeding on whatever they can in their time above ground. One organic control developed to tackle the Japanese beetle problem is called milky spore powder. And anyone with a lawn knows these grubs can devastate lawns and gardens. ![]() Are you having problems with Japanese beetles eating your plants? These adults burrow into the ground in the fall to lay eggs which eventually turn into grubs.
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