Schuster is the director of the Toronto Botanical Garden, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Horticulture from the University of Guelph. When temperatures pick up again in the early spring, they emerge and will quickly seek … Spray the clay on the plant, making sure to get both sides of the leaves and the stems. Transplant and Planting Insecticide. Scientific Name Use yellow sticky traps to catch cucumber beetles and other pests. Synthetic insecticides vary in their toxicity to the environment. m) … Spray when beetle populations exceed 0.5 to 1 beetle per plant.  Use the lower threshold on bacterial wilt sensitive varieties. The first generation of adults emerges in mid-June to early July, precisely as many direct-seeded cucurbits emerge. In all steps, the best time to treat your plants with insecticide is in the early evening as this is when the cucumber beetles will be most active. Control of Cucurbit Insects. Because cucurbits are continually flowering, it is important to read and follow label directions and avoid applying the insecticides to the blooms. Striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum) are less than a quarter inch long, with three black stripes down their wing covers. Pre-plant (soil applied) or seed-treatment insecticides are taken up by germinating seedlings and protect plants from feeding for a few weeks, after which foliar applications are used when beetle populations exceed the action threshold. Please enable Javascript to run. A single post-transplant soil drench with Admire or Platinum can provide near season-long control. Be sure to monitor field borders and other potential over-wintering sites.  Beetles will often enter the crop from adjacent fields used to grow cucurbits in the previous year.Â. Beetles will often take shelter in leaf axils and in cracks in the soil when the plants are small.  Once blossoms are present, beetles are usually found inside older (spent) flowers. The stripes on the Western Corn Rootworm do not extend all of the way down the wing pad and it has black legs. Be sure to monitor field borders and other potential overwintering sites.Â. You can purchase natural cucumber beetle sprays in garden centers or you can also make your own. Use extreme care when using any chemical remedies, and always follow label directions precisely. Chemical pesticides are always the last resort, but because cucumber beetles are so destructive, gardeners sometimes reach for them. Beetle populations in excess of 20 per plant may transmit the bacterial wilt before insecticides have a chance to control the beetles. Cucumber beetle control with insectic… The cucumber beetle is the primary vector of bacterial wilt disease.  Once a plant is infected, there is no control for bacterial wilt.  Effective control of the beetle population is the only method to prevent crop losses due to bacterial wilt infections. Scouting Notes Identification Choosing a natural spray to treat cucumber beetle infestations is a cost-effective method compared to using traditional pesticides. Western Corn Rootworm - Western Corn Rootworm will occasionally feed on cucurbits, although it greatly prefers corn. Beetles will often take shelter in leaf axils and in cracks in the soil when the plants are small. Neem oil soap is a natural insecticide that will kill cucumber beetles on contact and then repel new arrivals for about 2 weeks. Use the lower threshold on bacterial wilt–susceptible varieties. Our research has demonstrated that for a small garden of 100 or so cucurbit plants, you can be successful at controlling cucumber beetles and squash bugs using 6-8 Blue Hubbard squash plants. Cucumber Beetle populations tend to peak a week after the first beetles appear in the field. Neem oil is a common natural insecticide that can be purchased as a ready-made spray in many garden centers. Repeated applications of contact insecticides are necessary to protect muskmelon plants from beetle feeding and transmission of bacterial wilt. Biology Larvae of both species are small (3/8 in) and creamy white colored. The slender white larvae (up to 1/3 inch long), have brown ends and injure plants by feeding on roots and underground s… They are most effective when targeting non-adult stages. Using insecticide to kill cucumber beetles is a multi-step process to ensure that both the adult and larvae of cucumber beetles are killed. Control: Cultural : Rotate vine crops with grains, tomatoes, or a non-host cover crop to delay cucumber beetle infestations. Pesticide sprays must be directed at adult beetles. If beetle populations exceed 20 per plant, transmission of the bacterial wilt bacterium may occur before insecticide treatments have a chance to control the beetles. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Till the Ground. Large-scale application of neem oil will require consultation with a specialist, but you can use prepared neem oil sprays yourself. Eggs of both species are pale orange-yellow and are laid in groups. Spray plants again after a rain to ensure they are continually protected. The best way to stop the occurrence and spread of this disease is to control early season adult beetles. The Spotted Cucumber Beetle, also known as the Southern Corn Rootworm, is slightly larger than the striped cucumber beetle. They may be present in the field throughout the summer. This can help … Neem Oil. Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide found in the seeds of the neem tree. The Striped Cucumber Beetle has stripes that extend the length of its wing pad and it has yellow legs with black “knees.”. These strategies include using diatomaceous earth, kaolin clay, a botanical insecticide, several cultural control methods, and biological control. Insecticides can also be used for controlling cucumber beetles as well, but keep in mind when you use insecticide, you may kill the natural predators and beneficial bugs that are already in your garden. Luckily, several plants can repel cucumber beetles. The primary means for managing cucumber beetles is the application of insecticides. Applying a non-systemic insecticide, such as malathion, usually is the best choice, but it should be the last option after all natural remedies have been used. Late-season feeding on the fruit may reduce marketable yields. Once cucumber beetles reach threshold levels, consider applying an insecticide to avoid extensive injury to the infested crop. Cucumber Beetles are perhaps the Gourd Growers enemy number 1, and some kind of insect control should be used to control their numbers, the most common type of insecticides are chemical like Sevin, however we like to steer more toward non chemical insecticides. Delayed and staggered emergence of the beetles often results in the need for follow up treatments. Biology of cucumber beetles Striped cucumber beetles. Pyrethrum is a naturally occurring broad-spectrum insecticide extracted from the dried flower heads of African chrysanthemums. Adults survive the winter by overwintering (winter hibernation) near the host plants of their current generation. Cucumber beetles feed mainly on members of the cucurbit family—cucumbers, melons, and squashes—and also asparagus, early beans, corn, eggplant, peas, potatoes, and tomatoes. The beetles look like 1/4-inch-long insects that are yellow-green in color with a series of black stripes or spots. When applying, remember to spray over and under the leaves to deter cucumber beetles. When you transplant, the systemic insecticide chloronicotinyl -- 0.235 percent... Foliar Dusts. Luckily, for the organic gardener, there are some options that can help control this problem. Another homemade spray suggested by GH Organics is hot pepper and garlic. 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. Cucumber beetles are nasty little pests that attack cucumbers and related plants (squash, melons, pumpkins) throughout the growing season. You can plant them around your cucumber plants to keep the beetles away. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic powder that makes an excellent pest control for your garden. During the growing season, they are found feeding on seedlings, foliage, pollen and flowers causing greatly reduced yields and sometimes plant loss. Do not wait for the spring to … long, with 3 black stripes on yellow wing pads.  The stripes of the cucumber beetle extend the entire length of the wing pad.  The lower portions of the legs are black, giving the beetles the appearance of wearing knee-socks. Controlling cucumber beetle infection sometimes requires direct intervention. Kaolin clay is a natural deterrent that creates a surface the beetles don't like. The cucumber beetle falls into two separate insect genera, the Diabrotica and Acalymma. Kaolin clay is reported to act by making cucurbit crops unattractive to cucumber beetles and because it gums up the beetles’ antennae and otherwise irritates them. Count the number of beetles feeding on the plants and divide by 100 to determine the number of beetles per plant. There is usually be peak in beetle activity each spring that lasts two to four weeks. Mix 3 cups (0.71 L) of the powdered clay with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water. If immediate action and control is necessary, apply a pyrethrin or azadirachtin insecticide to the affected areas. Insecticides Cucumber Beetle Control Cucumber Beetles are approximately 1/4 inch in length. The second way to help improve your cucumber beetle problem is to use an insecticide such as neem oil extract. While there’s a number of different species in each genera, we’re going to focus on common food pests. A recipe provided by GH Organics suggests mixing together 1 oz of wood ash and 1 oz of hydrated lime in a gallon of water. Blend together 1 chopped onion, 6 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp of dried hot pepper, 1 tsp of pure soap — you can’t substitute with detergent -- and a gallon of hot water. Remember, having 1-2 cucumber beetles or squash bugs on your cash crop doesn't mean that you need to spray. Early treatment is essential for beetle management in large commercial muskmelon or cucumber operations. Watch for them from spring to fall. Striped cucumber beetles have a basic lifecycle just like any other beetle. Allow the blended mixture to sit for up to two days, strain out the ingredients and use the remaining liquid in a handheld spray bottle. 6- 7 mm (1/4 in.) 3 Start scouting for beetle adults shortly after emergence or transplanting. Using Diatomaceous Earth To Get Rid Of Cucumber Beetles. Management Host plant resistance. Acalymma vittata, Often Confused With The cucumber beetle is a major pest of all cucurbits.  Beetles attack all parts of both young and mature plants.  Young plants are most susceptible to yield losses due to direct feeding on the cotyledons and developing leaves.  High populations of beetles can completely skeletonise the plant. Use caution if beneficial insects have been released or pollinators are present. Go to the Natural Insecticides section in Yardener’s Tool Shed for details on each product. It has yellow wing pads with black spots. Striped cucumber beetle adults are yellow, elongate, 1/4-inch beetles with black heads and three wide black stripes on wing covers (as opposed to the spots on the spotted beetle's wing covers). Late-season feeding on the fruit may reduce marketable yields.Â, Scouting Notes The first generation of adults emerges in mid-June to early July, precisely as many direct-seeded cucurbits emerge. Cucumber Beetles over-winter as adults in grassy fencerows and sheltered areas. Both are part of the Chrysomelidae family of insects, which encompasses many of the beetle species. per plant in cucumbers, melons, Hubbard and butternut squash, and younger pumpkins, and five cucumber beetles per plant in watermelon, other varieties of squash, and older pumpkins. Nasturtiums are one of such plants. Pyrethrum is made from chrysanthemum blossoms and is quite effective especially when applied directly to the pest. How to Get Rid of Cucumber Beetles Inspect newly planted cucurbit plants for the presence of this beetle; be watchful when plants are seedlings. Adult spotted cucumber beetle. Period of Activity Thresholds Striped Cucumber Beetles are the most common species found in Ontario cucurbit fields.  They are approximately 6- 7 mm (1/4- 2/7 in.) They have distinct black spots or lengthwise stripes on their wings. Natural Ways to Use a Garlic Mix to Keep Bugs Out of My Garden, Country Farm Lifestyles: Natural Pesticides for Cucumber Beetles, Better Homes and Gardens: Stop Cucumber Beetles in Your Garden, Cornell University: Vegetable MD Online: Cucumber Beetles, Corn Rootworms, and Bacterial Wilt in Cucurbits, University of Conneticut: Striped Cucumber Beetles, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Cucumber Beetles - Organic and Biorational Integrated Pest Management, How to Make Organic Pepper Spray for Plants. Cucumber Beetle populations tend to peak a week after the first beetles appear in the field. Another natural option with which you can use to get rid of cucumber beetles is plant repellents. The stripes on the Western Corn Rootworm do not extend all of the way down the wing pad and it has black legs. Shake or stir the mixture before using. There is one generation of cucumber beetles per year, however; beetle development is often very staggered.  As a result there may be several “flushes” of beetle activity throughout the season. Treat when beetles exceed 0.5–1 per plant. Adult cucumber beetles (1/4 inch long) are yellowish-green in color with dark heads, legs and antennae. When applying your sprays, regular, frequent applications are strongly recommended as natural sprays are less intense than chemical ones can easily be washed off. Dig soil at the end of autumn. Continue scouting after an insecticide application. A follow-up spray may be necessary, as beetle emergence is often staggered. The varieties “Liberty” and “Wisconsin SMR58” are tolerant of cucumber beetle … Carefully inspect 10 groups of 10 plants across the field.  Count the number of beetles feeding on the plants and divide by 100 to determine the number of beetles per plant. However, early populations are generally the most damaging. If beetle populations exceed 20 per plant, transmission of the bacterial wilt bacterium may occur before insecticide treatments have a chance to control the beetles. Cucumber beetles tend to congregate within certain areas of a field, making them excellent candidates for spot spraying or border sprays.  Cucurbits vary greatly in their, Cucurbit varieties, such as Turk’s Turban, known to be particularly attractive to the beetles may be useful as a. The cucumber beetle is a small, striped insect that damages cucumber plants by feeding on the tender leaves, stems and shoots, particularly in the early stages of growth. The cucumber beetle is an oblong greenish-yellow beetle with black spots or stripes on its wing covers. Cucumber beetles are difficult to control. Management of the first generation will often prevent a population rebound later in the season. Once blossoms are present, beetles are usually found inside older (spent) flowers. The mixture can be transferred to a portable spray bottle and applied to your cucumber plants by hand. Mid-season cucumber beetle populations may congregate on the flowers, feeding on both the petals and the pollen.  Severe feeding at this stage will cause blossom abortion and yield loss.  After fruit set, the 1st generation adults will occasionally become problematic as beetles feed on the fruit, rendering it unmarketable. In some cases, natural sprays are preferred by home gardeners as they may be wary of spraying their vegetables with a chemical insecticide. long with 3 black stripes, The less common, spotted cucumber beetle is slightly larger, Feeding damage can seriously harm seedlings, The main threat to cucurbit yield is the transmission of bacterial wilt. They may be present in the field throughout the summer. Carefully inspect 10 groups of 10 plants across the field. Preventative treatments are recommended, so spray your plants if you think they may be in danger, don’t wait until the cucumber beetle infestation has taken hold. Thresholds However, early populations are generally the most damaging. Neem oil kills cucumber beetles upon contact. According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, when pure neem oil is used, it is also effective for treating cucumber beetle larvae and eggs. You should dig the soil in the late fall. Continue scouting after an insecticide application. Western Corn Rootworm - Western Corn Rootworm will occasionally feed on cucurbits, although it greatly prefers corn. Period of Activity It has been one of the most common organic remedy sprays for cucumber beetles used over the years. The Striped Cucumber Beetle has stripes that extend the length of its wing pad and it has yellow legs with black “knees.”. This amount of spray will cover about 400 square feet (40 sq. Table 1 lists the natural and conventional contact insecticides for the … They begin to emerge as the soil temperatures reach 10°C (50°F).  Emerging beetles feed on weeds, grasses and early-planted cucurbits until they breed, lay eggs and die. The cucumber beetle is about ¼ inch long. One early prevention for the critters is tilling up the ground in late fall. Some features of this website require Javascript to be enabled for best usibility. Diatomaceous earth works so well to keep cucumber beetles out of our garden!. Organic insect soap will work Ok on cucumber beetles but due to … He leads gardening workshops for elementary school children. It may be possible that you don't have to spray insecticides to your cash crop at all! They live through the winter as adults in leaf litter and emerge in … Delayed and staggered emergence of the beetles often results in the need for follow up treatments. Often Confused With Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder that is made from ground up fossils of diatoms a type of algae with a hard shell.. The percentage of cucumber beetles harbouring bacterial wilt tends to increase dramatically over the course of the summer. A mixture of wood ash and powdered hydrated lime can be used to deter cucumber beetle bugs. Cucumber varieties differ in their attractiveness to beetles. Insecticide for the Cucumber Beetle Synthetic Pesticides. B. bassiana sprays infect and kill cucumber beetles once they have hatched. Paul Schuster began writing in 2006 and has published in "Gardening Life" and "Canadian Gardening." Neem oil is a natural insecticide It’s extracted and diluted into a foliar spray and used as a natural insecticide/ fungicide in organic gardening. Neem oil is a common natural insecticide that can be purchased as a ready-made spray … Begin cucumber beetle control as soon as seedlings emerge. 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Cucumber plants by hand three black stripes or spots as the Southern Corn Rootworm - Corn! Beetle sprays in garden centers or you can use prepared neem oil is a natural insecticide that kill., several cultural control methods, and biological control wilt tends to increase dramatically over the of... Length of its wing pad and it has yellow legs with black.. Of 10 plants across the field and transmission of bacterial wilt tends to dramatically!