Asian aggression. Japanese beetles devour the Chinese wisteria

Photos by Stan Rolfsrud

The dead one on the leaf reposes in mute testimony
to the effectiveness of the chemical product.

We're unapologetic. We've worked hard for three years to get that wisteria to rise 20 feet up the side of the house. So when we spotted the battalion of Japanese Beetles hard at work carving up the new leaves in exactly the same location they attacked last year, we mobilized our forces. There would be no mercy today.
In the garage poison control section, we found it right where we left it 12 months ago. The label says it all: Japanese Beetle Killer. A few well-aimed volleys later and soon the deck was littered with the corpses of the destroyers, their dreams of domination extinguished. Until the next time.
Our work done, we holstered the chemical and finished our beer, a time for pondering our role in the life and death struggle for control and survival.

Yes, they are beautiful. Until you see them climbing your Chinese wisteria, filling the leaves with holes. This
one is dead on the deck. So it is beautiful again.