After several years of reduced activity by Japanese beetles, they seem to be back in profusion this year.

They have eaten the leaves off our Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, are feasting on the raspberries – although we have picked more than 50 pints, so we got our share – and are into the hops, the roses and the asparagus.

The beetles showed up late this year, maybe because of the cool weather, but when they hit, they hit in force.

I hand-picked a little early, then went away for a while, and was inundated when I got back.

A parasite – recognizable by a white dot on the beetle's back – has been introduced, and I thought it was reducing the population, but maybe not so much this year.

Milky spore put on your lawn is supposed to kill the beetle grubs, but will work only if everyone in the neighborhood uses it.

Japanese beetle traps kill a lot of beetles, but many people believe that they attract more beetles to your property, so you are no better off than without them.

I'm still pulling for the parasite.

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