Off The Grid News Better Ideas For Off The Grid Living
How To Get Rid Of Japanese Beetles?
Dear Editor,
Two words… Japanese beetles. They’re destroying everything. It doesn’t matter if it’s my fruit trees (I have plum, apple, and peach trees), the flowers in my yard, or the veggies in my garden—these little pests attack without mercy. Can you tell me some remedies that might help, short of burning the yard down?
About Had It In Alabama
Dear Alabama,
First found in New Jersey in 1916, the Japanese beetle has become a pest extraordinaire for the United States in several areas, including: the entire states of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the Colorado counties of El Paso, Douglas, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, Boulder, Larimer, Weld, Broomfield, and Denver. They have been found in the entire Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince. The USDA has a web page with some useful information available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/jb/.
Originally from Asia, these pests have no known natural enemies in the United States and have a wonderful habitat in which to breed and reproduce. The USDA has put out a brochure on this pest that can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/JB3-07.indd.pdf. Additionally, the New Hampshire Sentinel Source published some information about natural means of controlling the Japanese beetle that can be found at https://www.sentinelsource.com/contributed_news/july-is-the-month-for-invasions—japanese-beetles/article_b8235eb8-cacd-11e1-8063-001a4bcf887a.html.
I, for one, am very fond of bats and bat houses. Off The Grid News ran an article on bats that you can find at //www.offthegridnews.com/2012/06/21/the-truth-about-bats/.
The Editor
Thanks for the Encouragement
Dear Editor,
Thank you for such an encouraging editorial last week. I have learned that it in the times of adversity that our true character comes forth. Do we still trust God at those times? That is when our faith, hope, and courage should be the strongest.
God bless you,
Frances
Dear Frances,
Thank you so much for your email. I appreciate you writing in to give us here at Off the Grid News a word of encouragement! J
The Editor
Correction On California Ammo Permit Fee
Dear Readers,
The article on the California ammo permit fee did not state clearly enough that this permit fee legislation (SB 53) has only passed the California Senate, not the whole legislature, and has not been signed into law. The article also gave the impression that this authorization fee was on a per purchase basis when in fact, it is an annual fee. The article erroneously suggested that background checks would be conducted each time an ammunition purchase was made. This background check will be conducted at the time of the application for the ammunition purchase authorization. However, there will be a database constructed with the names of everyone who has applied for an ammunition authorization permit.
We apologize for the errors contained in this story.
The Editor
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