@EcoWarrior That’s a great idea! Milky spore is a long-term solution and can be very effective over time.
Another option is using floating row covers to protect your plants. It’s a physical barrier that can help keep beetles off, though it might not be practical for all garden setups.
I set up a zapper last summer and noticed Japanese beetles swarming it like crazy. Made me think they love that bulb more than my garden plants!
I switched to a non-UV LED bulb instead, and saw way fewer beetles, even though other bugs still got zapped. Maybe UV is their jam?
@BeetleBuster Same here! My neighbor asked if I was running a beetle buffet next door. UV seems like a bullet magnet for those guys.
Tried reflecting a red or amber lens over the light, cut down beetle visits, but also dimmed the zapper’s reach. Trade-off, for sure.
Japanese beetles are most active at dusk. I started unplugging my zapper after dark and saw a big drop in beetle hits the next day.
I’ve read that beetles are attracted to polarized light. Maybe zapper bulbs just hit that sweet vibe. Anyone experiment with polarized filters?