by Cindy Walker Burton

Japanese beetles were discovered in St. Louis, MO in 1934 after arriving on imported nursery stock. They slowly spread to Columbia, Springfield, and Kansas City by the early 1960’s (source: AI Overview). Invasive, destructive Japanese beetles consume over 300 different plant species. Northern Gardener website advises their extermination by tossing them in a bucket of soapy water, spraying them with a dish soap/water mixture, or using nematodes, neem oil, or milky spore. The mame-kogane that I photographed was poised to dine on a butterfly plant leaf. The long extended leg indicates it was resting, showing a defensive posture, or anchoring. I think it was telling me sayonara (goodbye).