Beetles, Beetles! Everywhere we look, it seems, we're surrounded by Beetles!
Japanese Beetles are large (1/2 inch), hungry and numerous. They're dark metallic green to black, with bronze wing-covers. They love to eat red-foliaged plants as well as linden and elm trees, raspberry and green bean plants, roses, and other plants. They can be controlled by spraying a protective chemical on foliage (Sevin, Eight, Malathion, Neem), by contact killers (same as above, plus pyrethrin), systemic insecticides containing imidacloprid, and the lures that attract them into the disposal bags. The adult feeding-season ends when the eggs are laid in August; the larvae which hatch out from the eggs, move down through the soil to overwinter for the next year.
Lily leaf beetles are also a serious pest in the Portland area. They are small, rectangular insects, colored bright tomato red with black legs. The larvae (which are also voracious feeders) often appear as orangy black-covered bumps on the stems and leaves. Though lilies are their primary focus, they also feed on Cosmos, Solomon's Seal, Nicotiana, Potatoes, and Nightshade.
The second generation of Viburnum Leaf Beetle will be along soon, so keep an eye out for any adults causing damage to Viburnum foliage. The same insecticides as recommended above will be effective for this pest.