One of the most problematic insect pests that organic vegetable growers have to deal with is the striped cucumber beetle. The slightly smaller Western spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata) is found in the far West, from Oregon to Arizona. In addition to chewing on leaves, flowers and fruit of cucumber, melon and squash, cucumber beetles transmit a disease called bacterial wilt, which causes plants to wilt and die, and may spread several viruses. Beetle populations in excess of 20 per plant may transmit the bacterial wilt before insecticides have a chance to control the beetles. Cucumber beetles do not like to feed in this highly reflective environment. Numerous natural predators attack cucumber beetles at various life stages, but they seldom provide adequate control. Already a Member? Contact Us; Press Releases; Disclaimers; 90th Anniversary; Bugs Quick Guide Easy as 1 - 2 - 3 . Larvae of western spotted cucumber beetle develop outside of cucurbit fields and striped cucumber beetle larvae are located on roots where they cannot be controlled. Organic and inorganic chemicals, and one biological insecticide, can help control cucumber beetles. However, you can control and manage cucumber beetles with some natural, DIY home remedies. Trap & Monitor cucumber Beetle Populations While cucumber beetles are common pests to plants in the cucurbit family ( Cucurbitaceae ), these voracious eaters happily feed on other plant varieties as well. Body is ¼ long, yellowish green with 12 distinct black spots on its wings. Handpick cucumber beetles found on the plants. Another great way of getting rid of cucumber beetles organically is companion planting. 1. Cucumber beetles become active in late May or early June and feed on the blossoms of early flowering plants, such as dandelions, apples and hawthorn, until their host crops are available.Identify and control cucumber beetles in Minnesota home gardens Adult cucumber beetles will need to feed so anything growing will be fed upon immediately. Guide to Vegetable Garden Pests: Identification and Organic Controls. Cucumber beetles are attacked by a variety of natural enemies, the most important being a parasitic tachinid fly, ... Larvae of western spotted cucumber beetle develop outside of cucurbit fields and striped cucumber beetle larvae are located on roots where they cannot be controlled. Canadian Subscribers - Click Here This article is part of our Organic Pest Control Series, which includes articles on attracting beneficial insects, controlling specific garden pests, and using organic pesticides. General predators include birds, frogs and various wasps and flies, including the small tachinid fly. You can place some on the garden floor and hang some on the tree branches. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Vegetable Crops Hotline at guan40@purdue.edu. To control striped cucumber beetles out of your cucumber patch without chemical sprays, protect your seedlings at planting with fabric row covers. Learn how to control cucumber beetles naturally! When temperatures reach the mid-50s in spring, spotted cucumber beetles emerge and begin feeding on the pollen, petals and fruit of roses and various perennial flowers. Cucumber varieties differ in their attractiveness to beetles. Another way to control cucumber beetles is to introduce insect predators into your garden. Organic Cucumber Beetle Control There are a variety of pyrethrin options that have an effect against some varieties of cucumber beetles, with varying levels of efficiency. The insect feeds on all the cucurbit crops, but can be particularly Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. The varieties “Liberty” and “Wisconsin SMR58” are tolerant of cucumber beetle damage. Remove the chickens after 30 minutes of feeding. The only way to avoid this devastating disease is to prevent the beetles from feeding on the plants. If adult feeding damage is identified, apply kaolin clay (Surround WP) to plant foliage. As soon as cucumber-family crops become available, cucumber beetles find them and begin to feed. Their preferred foods: cucumbers, beans, melons, squash, pumpkins, corn and eggplant. These strategies include using diatomaceous earth, kaolin clay, a botanical insecticide, several cultural control methods, and biological control. Plant an extra early squash-family crop as a trap crop then destroy the beetles attracted to it. Labeled for use against: Striped Cucumber Beetle (Acalymma vittatum), Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica u. howardii), Western Striped Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica u. undecimpunctata), Western Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Acalymma trivittatum) species.DO NOT USE FOR Banded Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica balteata).Adults, about 1/3 inch long, start eating crops early in the season. This trap works by attracting adults with a pheromone lure; once they get too close, they become caught on the sticky trap and quickly perish. Natural Spray for Cucumber Beetle Bugs. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. Diatomaceous Earth. See more ideas about Cucumber beetles, Cucumber, Beetle. Make sure to throw them properly and not just anywhere on the ground. After a plant is infected, nothing can be done to stop the progress of the disease, which clogs up the plants’ vascular systems to the point where they cannot function. These beetles spend the winter in plant debris in field edges, and with the onset of warm days and emergence of cucurbit crops, move rapidly into the field. You will be more successful in the morning or evening. Organic growers have long know about INSECTICIDAL SOAP to treat their gardens for cucumber beetles. To entirely block wilt transmission, insecticides would have to be applied repeatedly as new beetle colonists arrive, which could grow expensive. You can use sticky glue board traps to control the activities of the cucumber beetles. Petroleum jelly is a petroleum product, that is familiar and so might be thought of as "safe", but is not "organic". Organic Cucumber Beetle Control. Spotted cucumber beetle damage, Invasive.org 3. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. The most common of cucumber pests are black and yellow cucumber beetles, including striped cucumber beetles, spotted cucumber beetles, and similar species. How to Get Rid of Cucumber Beetles Natural and Organic Solutions Below are some simple solutions for the elimination of cucumber beetles: One of the best solutions is to encourage the presence of natural predators. Managing these cucumber pests requires constant attention, but it is time well spent. Sign in with your online account. At the same time, companion plantings of buckwheat, catnip or borage grown within a few yards will attract beneficial insects to the area. Last fall, MOTHER EARTH NEWS launched our Organic Pest Control Survey to learn more about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to limiting insect damage in organic vegetable gardens. 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