Japanese Beetle Infestation At The Littleton War Memorial Rose Garden

It  appears that a Japanese Beetle infestation has hit the Littleton War Memorial Rose Garden. 

This invasive species of beetle has been spreading throughout the U.S. east-to-west for over a hundred years.

When I was a kid, Japanese Beetle traps were commonly seen in San Diego's Balboa Park, as well as in other regional parks where decorative flowers were grown.

The Japanese Beetle has no natural predator in North America, and it decimates not only flowering plants, but also vegetables & fruits such as asparagus, spinach, peaches, corn, etc., as well as numerous trees.

There have been great strides made in the development of repellents - hell, just planting chives or garlic helps keep the Japanese Beetle away.

For full-scale infestations such as seen at the War Memorial Rose Garden, it's probably necessary to get hands on with control measures, shaking or picking the beetles off the roses and disposing of them. However, even a simple soap & water solution sprayed on the plants will help get rid of them.

From what I saw yesterday there is nothing being done about the infestation in Littleton, which is damn shame. Because while there is a species of wasp that has been introduced that preys on the beetles, a rose garden full of wasps makes for the least enjoyment of a rose garden possible.