They're baaack!

I have been to hell today and it was in the form of Japanese Beetles!!! If you have these, you know what I mean, if not, consider yourself blessed in the highest form. I just thought the other day that their time was coming close... as I stepped outside to do my daily check and watering, I noticed them. They were swarming my plants and had already attacked many leaves.

I am not an expert, but have gained knowledge since they first waged their war on me and my shrubbery and trees last year. I heard that they used to be on the East Coast, but have made their way here in the last few years (thanks a lot!)
As I understand it, they are grubs, those repulsive little maggot things that kill the roots of your lawn, then they hatch into adulthood and become this coppery-black flying beetle that are relentless! They eat leaves and make them look like doilies within minutes! They can kill full sized trees in a matter of weeks!

Now, here's the thing, you should be able to treat your lawn for grubs and kill them before they hatch and take over the world. I do. I explained this to my neighbor and urged him to do so (I told him as though it would be good for him, but we all know I was looking out for myself!) He did not. So, now I am stuck battling these creepy things again this year!!!

So I, being fully obsessive compulsive me, take the challenge. I run to the store and load up on $91.00 worth of specialty bug spray, liquid and dust, and traps. Mind you, it is now the heat of the day, their busy time. As I am spraying and dusting and setting out traps, they are attacking me. I am running in circles, shaking out my hair, flailing my arms and screaming you little futher muckers (but it wasn't dislexic) just to keep them off of me- I'm a complete tard out there! I also cover my ears... I have this huge fear of them flying into my ears and setting up camp in my head- is that weird?

So good thing I am not a Japanese Beetle because I am now covered in head to toe with this dust poison. I look like I was attacked by a chalk board- and he was fuming mad! But it's on! I am fully vested in this now and I will not back down. I will have nightmares about them tonight, but tomorrow I will go out and spray them again.