Cucumber beetles are here

Stripped cucumber beetle, illustration by Jessica MacDonald

Striped cucumber beetles have made their annual debut in the Annapolis Valley.  These pests are problematic in many ways.  Feeding damage can stunt plants, and when flowers are predated, it can reduce fruit set and yield.  Cucumber beetles also vector bacterial wilt.  Scarring on fruit by adult beetles reduce the marketability of the crop. 

Newly emerging cucurbit plants are particularly susceptible to stunting and bacterial wilt, while older plants can withstand up to 25% defoliation.  Early season control is essential with this pest, and it is important to scout your fields regularly. 

For more information on cucumber beetle biology, beneficial insects, and organic management, check out Managing Cucumber Beetles in Organic Farming Systems on eXtension.
 
Please click here for Perennia's Pest Management Guides for Cucumbers and for Melons.  For Perennia's Pest Management Guides for Pumpkin and Squash, please click here.  Insect netting can also be an effective control option for this pest, but netting must be removed at flowering for pollination to occur.

Cucumber Beetles Pressure is Very High

Cucumber beetle pressure continues to be very high and some of the older products provide short term control only.  Scouting fields regularly and applying insecticides is critical for avoiding crop damage and the spread of bacterial wilt. 

Please see the June 16, 2014 blog post for links to cucurbit pest management guides.

Cucumber Beetles are Here!

Striped and spotted cucumber beetles can cause serious losses in cucumbers, melons, pumpkin and squash. Not only can they destroy new plantings, but cucumber beetles are a major concern because they vector bacterial wilt of cucurbits.  In Nova Scotia, striped cucumber beetles (yellow-green, about 6 mm long, with three black stripes down the back) are most common.

Begin cucumber beetle control as soon as seedlings emerge.  Early treatment is essential for beetle management.  A single application of Admire may provide near season-long control.  Applications of foliar insecticides may be required twice per week during peak beetle activity.
Row covers and/or insect nettings are very effective means of excluding cucumber beetles in pesticide free or organic production.  Place the cover as soon as the transplants are set out and uncover when plants begin to bloom.
Please consult a pest management guide for cucurbits such as Perennia’s Guide to Pest Management in Field Cucumber, Guide to Pest Management in Melons or Guide to Pest Management in Pumpkin and Squash for detailed information on pesticide options.

Cucumber Beetle!

Cucumber beetles are the most important insect pests of vine crops or cucurbits (cucumber, squash, melons, and pumpkins) in Atlantic Canada. The striped cucumber and the spotted cucumber beetle occur in the Northeast of US and Canada Not only cucumber beetles can cause losses to cucurbits by direct feeding on young plants, blossoms, and fruit but they also are vector bacterial wilt.

If not controlled cucumber beetles can destroy entire crop. For organic producers row covers can be very effective by creating a physical barrier between crop and insect. However, floating row covers need to be removed at the time when crop begins to flower so that pollinators can get in and do their job. For chemical control, drench with Admire insecticide has been the most effective and in some years may provide season long control.

Growers are advised to monitor crop for cucumber beetle and apply insecticide at the first sing of insect in the field.

For detail information about registered pesticides please visit:
Cucumbers: http://agrapoint.ca/Pest%20Management%20Guides/Vegetables/2012/Cucumber%202012.pdf
Squash: http://agrapoint.ca/Pest%20Management%20Guides/Vegetables/2012/Pumpkin%20and%20Squash%202012.pdf
Melons: http://agrapoint.ca/Pest%20Management%20Guides/Vegetables/2012/Melons%202012.pdf