Two species of cucumber beetles are considered more devastating for the Cucurbit crops across North America; Striped Cucumber Beetle and Western Striped Cucumber Beetle. Jointly, these are called Cucumber beetles and placed in a similar family Chrysomelidae, and genera Aclymma. The spotted cucumber beetle is a common pest in the North American climate and takes its position in Diabrotica genera. Both the adults and the larvae of these species are native pests on cucumbers besides other members from the cucurbits family. Moreover, the larvae of these species are also notorious pests as rootworms in corn. Adult beetles often feed on newly emerged leaves, buds, and flowers of the mature cucumber plants. The cucumber beetles are associated with spreading bacterial wilt and cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in many garden and field crops.
Both stripped and western striped cucumber beetles are native to North America and widespread pests on cucurbits crops especially, cucumber, squashes, melons, and gourds throughout the region. Both beetle species are also widely distributed in the west and east of the Rocky Mountains, south to most of Mexico, and north to southern Canada on cucurbits in commercial and garden plants.
Eggs of striped cucumber beetle are oval, orange, or yellow, and found in the cluster of 4. A female lays about 1500 eggs during the entire lifecycle. The striped cucumber beetle bears 3-black straighter stripes running down the back. An adult beetle measures almost 7-mm in length with a black or brown head, black abdomen, and yellow prothorax. The wings and tibia of the hind legs are also yellow.
Eggs also remain yellow and oval with a similar number of egg clusters and a total number of eggs laid during the lifecycle with that of Stripped cucumber beetle. An adult striped beetle also measures almost 7 mm in length, has a blackhead, black abdomen, and. Dorsal strips are not as straighter as in striped cucumber beetle. Overall, it contains a combination of the pale yellow body with black stripes running down the length of the body. The wings and tibia of the hind legs are black.
Both species of Cucumber beetles overwinter as adults and become active in early spring. Adults lay eggs near the base of cucurbit plants. Eggs hatching occurs in a week or 10-days, and larvae feed on roots of the host plants for almost 4-weeks before going into pupation. The pupation occurs in the soil about 2 to 3 mm deep under plant debris, stubbles, and organic litter. Adults appear in 2 to 3 weeks and start feeding on tender shoots, flowers, buds, and pollens. Soon after the eggs hatching occurs, larvae start damaging cucurbits roots and seedlings. The larvae remain in the soil until they reach maturity. The cucumber beetles take between 30 to 60 days to complete the entire life cycle. There may be one generation per year in Northern regions and up to two in southern.
Both species of cucumber beetles keep damaging cucurbits throughout their different growth stages. The larvae are not only damaging for cucurbits seeds, seedlings, sprouts, and tender growth but, they feed on corn roots where they identify as stripped corn rootworms. Adults feed on the foliage of more than 200 plants besides cucumber. They always target tender shoots, fruits, and flowers that prevent them from setting fruit. Otherwise, their feeding reduces fruit marketability. Cucumber beetles may transmit Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) in vegetables and fruits.
Cucumber beetles emerge in mid to late spring and feed on the foliage of early flowering plants if the relevant host plant is not available. They could become active on apples, dandelions, and other pome fruits until they find their host plant flowering in a garden. Since Cucumber beetles overwinter as adults at the suitable sites in your garden and become active when the temperature becomes favorable for their reproduction. Search them on the foliage of the flowering plants in mid to early spring, where you could mature beetles. Otherwise, their larvae could approach cucurbits seeds in the soil and seedlings at an early stage.
Both species of cucumber beetles need similar types of management practices for their effective control. Besides following all preventive measures if cucumber beetles’ infestation go beyond control, here are the most authentic strategies to suppress their population using the biological, organic, and chemical practices;
These are Steinernema feltiae which are naturally occurring soil living non-segmented roundworms. The beneficial nematodes are very effective against the larval stages of stripped rootworms that damage seeds, seedlings, and newly grown cucurbits. The purpose is to check cucumber beetles' infestation at the initial stage and expose the larvae to the parasitic activity of nematodes. When they're applied to the soil, they actively search their host and reside inside the body of stripped rootworms. The nematodes then release a bacterium on the body of beetles that kills them. The nematodes may produce another generation that keeps searching and destroying their hosts. Beneficial Nematodes application is required during the initial stages of larvae growth.
50-million nematodes are enough for controlling larvae in a 1000 square feet garden area. However, theirs is no sufficient evidence that they kill adult cucumber beetles.
BotaniGard consists of 22% of Beauveria bassiana which is entomopathogenic fungi and lives in the soil naturally. Its strain-GHA germinates on the beetle and weakens the chitin of adults and larvae. Typically, beetles can't molt and move to the next instars. These fungi also penetrate the body of beetles and release some toxins especially, Bassianin and Oxalic acid which, are also naturally existing stomach poisons for many insect pest species including, cucumber beetles. After applying BB strains on the target pests, it takes almost 7-days to establish and become active against cucumber beetles.
Add one tablespoon of BotaniGard wet able powder in one gallon of water and spray on the foliage targeting adult cucumber beetles.
Bliss Organic Neem is 100% natural oil extracted using a cold-pressed method that retains the efficacy of the active ingredients longer and never contains any sorts of impurities. It is derived from the seeds of Azadirachta Indica and possesses a higher amount of Azadirachtin that serves several purposes while controlling many pests and leaf diseases on edible plants. Bliss Neem Oil is OMRI listed and poses no residual threat to humans and the environment.
Moreover, Bliss Neem Oil is sprayed on the foliage of the plants to the day of harvest. Mix 1 ounce Bliss Neem Oil in one gallon of water and spray on the foliage of the plants infested with Cucumber beetles.
This concentrate contains 5% Pyrethrum. Pyrethrum and Pyrethrins are typically the same besides 6-refined esters in the latter. However, the esters are toxic on many pest species including, cucumber beetles. The amount of Pyrethrins describes the strength of the pyrethrum, and the source extracted. Most of these ingredients are extracted from Chrysanthemum flowers and refined in organic pest control. These are low toxic and residue-free ingredients that are safe for organic gardening. Typically, this formulation is OMRI listed and allowed in organic culture throughout the US.
Mix ½ ounce of pyrethrum concentrate per gallon of water and apply using a hand or backpack sprayer on the foliage of the affected plants. Better apply on the first appearance of cucumber beetles.
Bug-B-Gon is a systemic Insecticide that contains 0.5% Acetamiprid that is highly effective against cucumber beetle adults and larvae besides many other sucking and chewing pests that feed on the foliage of cucurbits plant. However, Acetamiprid application on short maturing vegetables, fruits, and leafy greens is not advised. It kills insects both by body contact and ingestion. It's equally effective against aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, and dusky bugs. Read the product label carefully about the toxicity levels and mixing proportion.
Mix 3-teaspoons of Acetamiprid per gallon of water for spraying on the foliage of cucurbits plants.
Check out our other guides on common garden bugs.
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