Beetle mania

Despite their appealing colors and smells, ornamental roses do not reward flower visitors with much nectar.  This is not a problem for the invasive Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica), which will voraciously consume the flower itself.  The presence of a beetle on a flower quickly attracts more beetles, leading to a feeding frenzy.

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) on a rose flower.

In addition to devouring flower petals, the beetles will skeletonize leaves by eating all the tissue between the veins.  The beetles will feed on a wide variety of plants, and since they do not have many natural enemies in North America, they can number in the thousands within a small area and do devastating damage.