Greetings Everyone!
 
Just wanted to add to the Highbush Cranberry comments, especiall since it may have been me who recommended them!  I planted three of these bushes at the Green Mountain Audubon Center last year and struggled as well with the beetle. All three plants were decimated even though I tried to keep up with the larva.
 
Later in the summer, Ross Bell & his wife (VT Entomological Society) had some great information on the life cycle of the beetle at VINS's Insect Festival. I'll have to track that down to share with you all. I went to the Cornell site that Michelle mentioned and there are two other pages we all should be aware of.
 
Cornell is/was conducting a citizen science program based on the spread of this beetle and has summaries for 2003-2005 on the spread across NY. http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/index.html
 
Also, there's a management/control page http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/manage.html  and http://www.hort.cornell.edu/vlb/manfaq.html
 
I'm wondering if trying to start to start the plant from cuttings of a "wild" shrub would yield better results. Thoughts anyone???????
 
Bridget 
 
Bridget Butler
Conservation Education Coordinator
Audubon Certified Teacher/Naturalist
Audubon Vermont
www.vt.audubon.org