Diseases + Pests — Pest of the Month: Japanese Beetle

Disease of the Month: Poison Hemlock

by Heather Prince

Pest of the Month: Japanese Beetle

This pesky critter is usually cause for deep alarm by clients as the adult beetles emerge and begin to skeletonize leaves of many desirable plants. Adult beetles are metallic green with copper wing covers and a row of white spots just below the wing covers. Adults are typically active for about six weeks beginning in July. Mated females will burrow into well-watered turf and lay eggs that hatch into white grubs. The grubs will feed on turf grass roots, sometimes causing dieback in the fall. Adults skeletonize leaves and will also eat flowers such as roses and hibiscus. The adults visit a new host plant about every three days and can fly between ¾ and 1 ½ miles to forage. The good news is that Japanese beetles will rarely kill a plant. The damage is unsightly, but there are several strategies to reduce beetle populations.

Treatment:

Once Japanese beetle larvae hatch from eggs in late July to early August, they need 11 inches of water through the fall before burrowing deeper into the soil for the winter. They tunnel downward when turf grass root zone temperatures drops to 60˚F. Thus, a summer into fall drought will impact populations. This also means that turf allowed to go dormant will be undesirable for beetles. Larvae overwinter in the top 11 inches of soil, so a deep, cold winter will also impact populations. Adults may be killed by carbaryl, cyfluthrin, permethrin, and other pyrethroid insecticidal sprays that will provide about two weeks of protection per application. Prized specimen trees such as lindens and cherries may be treated with a systemic insecticide containing imidacloprid applied as a drench in June. Be careful of the timing with lindens to avoid their flowering season as many pollinators, especially bees, forage on the flowers. You may also handpick beetles or knock them into a container of soapy water. Best results occur if more adults are killed in the first two weeks of emergence. Japanese beetle traps attract males via pheromones. Research has shown that traps attract more beetles to the area and actually increase damage.

Disease of the Month: Poison Hemlock

Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is an exotic invasive herbaceous biennial that is widespread in disturbed areas in Illinois and often turns up in client properties. All parts of the plant are highly poisonous and if ingested can be fatal. Poisoning may occur via smoke when plants are burned, sap contact on cuts, or contact rashes and burns. It’s also highly poisonous to livestock.

First year plants are large rosettes. Second year plants are 4 to 10 feet tall with finely dissected leaves, clusters of lacy white flowers, and thick green waxy stems with purple spots and streaks. After seed formation, plants will turn brown and die back. Think Queen Anne’s lace on steroids.

Additional resources:

University of Illinois Extension Service https://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/ horticulture/index.php

217-333-0519

Treatment:

Herbicides are most effective at the rosette or bolting stage. Recommended herbicides include: 2,4-D, dicamba+2,4-D, glyphosate, and triclopyr. Dress in long sleeves and long pants when handling and do not burn.

The Morton Arboretum http://www.mortonarb.org/Plant Clinic: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/ tree-and-plant-advice/ 630-719-2424

Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Information Service: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ plantinfoservice

847-835-0972

Tri-State Cut Stone & Brick Company

Wilmette,

(847) 745-8571 www.stone-brick.com

by Meta L. Levin

In 2004 Gary Murino’s family bought an Indiana cut limestone fabrication business located in Frankfort, IL and, in 2019 they acquired Wilmette, IL based Skokie Valley Materials. In between, they brought on a brick line.

The combined businesses, now known as Tri-State Cut Stone & Brick Company, operate out of two locations: Wilmette, IL and Frankfort, IL, and provide brick, building stone, stone fabrication, accessories and landscape materials, including concrete, clay and natural pavers, as well as porcelain tile and wall systems.

Skokie Valley already had a long history — more than 90 years — and a good reputation when the family bought it. In fact, it was known for selling hardscape supplies, brick and limestone to the landscape industry.

Since then, Tri-State Cut Stone & Brick has kept and brought on new expertise in many related fields.

Hardscape Sales Specialist Lauren Ogle owned her own small landscape contracting business when she pulled her truck into Tri-State Cut Stone & Brick’s yard one Saturday morning. She wasn’t looking for a job, but as she and Murino talked, he identified her as a possible salesperson. “I knew she had the ability to sell by her communication skills,” he says.

When he asked if she was interested in a sales job, she suggested that she try it out for a short time. It worked. “She has the ability to understand a customer’s needs without forcing them and is willing to jump in and do whatever is necessary,” says Murino. “She appreciates when someone doesn’t know to ask a question and brings it up.”

Ogle also has worked to “bring the youth mindset into this business,” she says. That includes a social media presence.

Joel Vande Kamp is known as the GM. “He’s my right-hand man,” says Murino. “He works side by side with me.” With more than 30 years of experience, Murino considers him the “most knowledgeable masonry person in the Chicago area. He’s a good teacher, too.”

Vande Kamp’s two sons now work for the company, as well. “We are a small, family-owned business, not a large corporation,” says Murino.

Although Murino considers the business small, he estimates that Tri-State Cut Stone & Brick Company is “probably the largest fabricator in the Chicago area. We get involved in everything from large commercial to residential projects.”

Their reputation is such that contractors often will ask for help in designing facades. In fact, says Murino, Vande Kamp has won awards for his brick designs.

Murino was attracted to ILCA, because it is “the largest landscape contractors association in America,” he says. Stephen Maltese, Tri-State’s hardscape division manager, had won awards when working for another company and has been involved in ILCA for several years. He has more than 40 years of masonry experience.

Since the company joined ILCA, Ogle dove right in, becoming a part of the Women’s Networking Group’s mentor-mentee program and hoping to become a mentor in her own right soon. “It brings a whole lot of joy to my life,” she says.

Murino grew up in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, Hinsdale and Lincoln Park. He studied business at John Carroll University before joining the family business. He is married and has four children. “The kids see me work hard, but I enjoy my work,” he says.