Cucumber Beetles (A3751-E) SR-05-2002
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A3751-E Cucumber Beetles GUniversityARDEN of Wisconsin–ExtensionFACTS Cucumber Beetles K. A. Delahaut There are two common species of Symptoms and effects cucumber beetles in Wisconsin: striped and spotted. The striped Cucumber beetle larvae feed on variety is a more serious pest in roots and stems and can stunt or the state. Cucumber beetles are kill seedlings or transplants. The a problem on vine crops because adults feed on stems, foliage and they transmit the bacterial wilt fruit. More importantly, these bee- organism. Vine crops attacked by tles transmit the bacteria that these beetles include cucumbers, causes bacterial wilt. This disease muskmelons, watermelons, plugs the water-conducting ves- squash and pumpkins. However, sels of the plant, eventually killing cucumbers and melons are most it. Adults pick up the bacteria at risk because they are sus when they feed on infected weeds Striped cucumber beetle (top) and ceptible to bacterial wilt. in early spring. When the beetles begin feeding on cucumbers and spotted cucumber beetle (bottom) Appearance muskmelons (bacterial wilt is not usually a problem in pumpkins The striped cucumber beetle 1 and squash) they spread the bac- (Acalymma vittatum) is ⁄5-inch teria either through their feces or long and yellow-green in color contaminated mouthparts. After with three black stripes running the bacteria enters the plant, it the length of its body. It is often travels through the vascular sys- confused with the western corn tem and blocks the vessels. rootworm beetle that is not a pest of vine crops but is often found The first symptom of bacterial wilt feeding on the pollen of cucurbit is a distinct wilting of individual blossoms. To distinguish between lateral leaves. Eventually, the the two, look at the undersides of entire plant wilts and dies. Cutting their abdomens: striped cucum- through the stem and holding the ber beetles have black cut ends together for ten seconds abdomens while the abdomens of can help you diagnose the dis- western corn rootworms are yel- ease. Slowly pull the ends apart low-green. Spotted cucumber and look for white, viscous sap beetles (Diabrotica undecem- which is the bacteria reproducing punctata howardi) are yellow- in the xylem, or water-conducting green with 12 black spots on their tissue. Adult cucumber beetles backs. are such effective carriers of the bacteria that serious crop dam- age can occur if as little as 10% of the beetles are infected. GARDEN FACTS University of Wisconsin–Extension Life cycle Scouting suggestions plants. If bacterial wilt infections have already occurred, remove Striped cucumber beetles over- Plants infected with bacterial wilt the diseased plants immediately winter as adults in protected will not recover. It is therefore to prevent the spread of the dis- areas. They become active in important to control the beetles ease while insects are present. mid- to late May. Females lay early in the season to prevent the their eggs in the soil at the base spread of the disease in the first Chemical: There are several of cucurbits. The beetles are place. Scout fields for adult bee- insecticides available for control of attracted to the chemical cucur- tles 2–3 times per week early in cucumber beetles. Refer to the bitacin that is produced by the the season and weekly thereafter. University of Wisconsin-Extension plants. The small white larvae Pay particular attention to field publication Commercial Vegetable feed on plant roots for 2–3 weeks edges where beetles tend to con- Production in Wisconsin (A3422) before pupating in the soil. gregate initially. Treat when there for a complete listing of available Striped cucumber beetles pro- are more than 4–5 adults per 50 products. If the insecticide car- duce one generation per year. plants. High beetle populations in baryl is selected, be very careful excess of 20 per plant may trans- when making applications while The spotted cucumber beetle mit the bacterial wilt organism bees are present. Apply it late in does not overwinter in Wisconsin. before insecticides have a the day to reduce bee mortality. Adults migrate north in early to chance to control the beetles. Adios® is a relatively new insecti- mid-July. Because they arrive so cide that combines cucurbitacin, late in the summer, they are sel- Control the chemical that attracts cucum- dom a serious problem. Non-chemical: You can achieve ber beetles to vine crops in the non-chemical control in small first place, with a very small plantings by covering the plants amount of carbaryl. The cucur- with floating row covers to keep bitacin causes the beetles to feed the beetles out. Make sure you compulsively and ingest the insec- uncover flowering plants to allow ticide while reducing bee mortality. bees to enter and pollinate the When to scout for striped and spotted cucumber beetles April May June July August September early mid late early mid late early mid late early mid late early mid late early mid late Author: K. A. Delahaut is an outreach specialist with the Integrated Pest Management Program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Extension, Cooperative Extension. Thanks to Jeff Wyman and Phil Pellitteri for reviewing this information. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin–Extension, Cooperative Extension. University of Wisconsin–Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements. If you need this information in an alternative format, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programs or call Extension Publishing at (608) 262-2655. © 2002 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Send inquiries about copyright permission to: Director, Cooperative Extension Publishing, 201 Hiram Smith Hall, 1545 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706. To see more Cooperative Extension publications, visit our web site: www.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/ Cucumber Beetles (A3751-E) SR-05-2002.