CUCUMBER BEETLE CONTROL

ABOUT CUCUMBER BEETLES
Cucumber beetles are notorious pests in vegetable gardens, especially those with cucumbers, melons, and squash. Cucumber beetles are easy to recognize by their yellow-green bodies and black spots or stripes. These small beetles feed on leaves, stems, and fruits, leaving behind holes and damage that weakens plants. More critically, cucumber beetles spread bacterial wilt and mosaic virus, which can severely impact crop yields. 

Cucumber beetles target cucumbers, squash, beet, bean, pea, sweet potato, okra, corn, lettuce, onion, and various cabbages.

IDENTIFICATION OF CUCUMBER BEETLE INFESTATION
They typically appear in gardens early in the season and feed on leaves and flowers, creating a distinctive “shot-hole” appearance. Check the undersides of leaves and around the base of plants for cucumber beetles, especially in early spring and summer. 

CULTURAL STRATEGIES
Cultural strategies focus on creating an environment that is favorable for plants and less hospitable to pests. Cultivation practices such as maintaining healthy soil, crop rotation, mulching, and companion planting help to create unfavorable conditions for pests.  

PHYSICAL / MECHANICAL CONTROL STRATEGIES
Physical or mechanical control strategies involve the use of physical barriers, tools, or methods to prevent, monitor, or control pests. We offer several products to help with physical/mechanical control, such as:

• Cucumber Beetle Traps & Lures to monitor and detect infestations early.
• Beneficial Insect Netting to keep the good bugs in and the bad bugs out.
• Diatomaceous Earth to create unfavorable conditions for soft-bodied pest insects.

BIOLOGICAL STRATEGIES
One of the most natural and effective ways to control pest insects is by introducing beneficial insects to your garden. Releasing beneficials creates a self-sustaining solution, where natural predators keep pest populations in check. This approach not only protects your plants but also supports biodiversity, making it an ideal choice for eco-friendly pest control.

Unlike harsh chemicals, natural predators take time to establish a population. This is why we recommend releasing the good bugs before pest infestations are heavy.

GENERAL PREDATORS

• Ladybugs control aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, mites, thrips, & more.
• Green Lacewing Larvae control aphids, small caterpillars, mealybugs, whiteflies, mites, scale, thrips, & more.
  

TARGETED CUCUMBER BEETLE CONTROL

• Beneficial Nematodes control cucumber beetle eggs and larvae in the soil.

SOFT CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS
If infestations have gotten too heavy, we also offer soft chemical treatments such as neem oil and insecticidal soap.