Cucumber Beetle Control

Cucumber Beetle Control

Cucumber beetles can be classified as either striped (Acalymma vittatum/A. trivittatum) or spotted (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber), depending on the markings on their bodies. Both types of cucumber beetles are frequent pests of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, though they will sometimes feed on different kinds of plants if their preferred hosts are not available.

Cucumber, squash, beet, bean, pea, sweet potato, okra, corn, lettuce, onion, and various cabbages are among the vegetable crops harmed by the cucumber beetle.

Think Preventative 

A crucial component of preventive and control is inspection. Keep an eye out for any evidence of pests on the plants and in the growth environment, particularly the medium. Use baited traps (Cucumber Beetle Trap) early in the growing season.
Adults or visible egg clusters should be manually removed and disposed of.

Use general predators to monitor and detect infestations early. When using beneficial insects for natural organic pest control it is a good practice to be preventative. Release predators like ladybugs, green lacewings, nematodes, or assassin bugs early and regularly throughout the growing seasons before you have an infestation.

Other alternatives to beneficial insects that can be used to control cucumber beetle include: 

To stop beetles from feeding, apply Surround WP (kaolin clay). Spinosad sprays can be applied as soil drenches to kill larvae before they pupate in the soil. If quick management is required, apply insecticides like pyrethrins or azadirachtin to reduce cucumber beetle populations.