Last fall, MOTHER EARTH NEWS launched our Organic Pest Control Survey to learn more about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to limiting insect damage in organic vegetable gardens. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Vegetable Crops Hotline at guan40@purdue.edu. Another way to control cucumber beetles is to introduce insect predators into your garden. Mated adults lay eggs at the base of cucumber-family plants, and the larvae weaken plants by feeding on their roots. Larvae grow to ½ long. The organic gardener can help control cucumber beetle via several options: diatomaceous earth, kaolin clay, a botanical insecticide, several cultural control methods and biological control. At planting time: Plant crops late to avoid the first generation of beetle feeding and egg laying. Organic Pest Control. They are, after all, some of the peskiest insects that you can find nibbling on your plants and are some of the most destructive ones as well. To entirely block wilt transmission, insecticides would have to be applied repeatedly as new beetle colonists arrive, which could grow expensive. Control By Hand Picking Light infestations of cucumber beetles are easy to control by hand picking. Diatomaceous earth is a non-toxic powder that makes an excellent pest control for your garden. If you have chickens, you can use your tamest hens to do a supervised flash-forage in plants infested with cucumber beetles. Overall insect balancing is important managing these cucumber pests. About an hour before the chickens normally go inside to roost, lead a few chickens to the problem area, enclosing them in a portable pen if necessary to protect nearby plantings. Introduce Natural Predators. Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder that is made from ground up fossils of … Cucumber beetles are found throughout North America, and more than one species may be found in the same garden. Another great way of getting rid of cucumber beetles organically is companion planting. Cucumber beetles overwinter in woods and low vegetation. Pay close attention to the edges of areas where vine crops are grown. While cucumber beetles are common pests to plants in the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae), these voracious eaters happily feed on other plant varieties as well.This trap works by attracting adults with a pheromone lure; once they get too close, they become caught on the sticky trap and quickly perish. How to Kill Cucumber Worms. Yellow jugs trap cucumber beetles. Lawn And Garden. Cucumber beetle – Another beetle bane might be the spotted cucumber beetle. It will also house other nonpest food for the spiders, such as springtails. Adult cucumber beetles (1/4 inch long) are yellowish-green in color with dark heads, legs and antennae. Manual removal of the cucumber beetle will also work. Start out with something such as Safer Brand Yard and Garden Spray, which is a blend of pyrethrin with potassium salts of fatty acids. Choosing a natural spray to treat cucumber beetle infestations is a cost-effective method compared to using traditional pesticides. Species of cucumber beetles There are six species of cucumber beetle in the United States. At the same time, companion plantings of buckwheat, catnip or borage grown within a few yards will attract beneficial insects to the area. Another way to control cucumber beetles is to introduce insect predators into your garden. The only way to avoid this devastating disease is to prevent the beetles from feeding on the plants. This procedure will set back the first generation of cucumber beetles. Several dangerous systemic pesticides are routinely used in conventionally grown cucumbers and melons, so implementing organic controls for cucumber beetles is worth the time and effort. See more ideas about Cucumber beetles, Cucumber, Beetle. The striped cucumber beetle also has a yellow body but has three black stripes along its back, Both are the same size, roughly a quarter of an inch long. Handpick cucumber beetles found on the plants. Adult cucumber beetles will need to feed so anything growing will be fed upon immediately. 2) Resistant cucumber varieties, such as County Fair pickling cucum-ber, are becoming available. Monitor vine crops for adult beetles two to three times per week early in the season, and weekly thereafter. Organic and inorganic chemicals, and one biological insecticide, can help control cucumber beetles. Organic Chemical Controls for Cucumber Beetles Field trials have reported somewhat inconsistent success using organic-approved insecticides to control cucumber beetles. Insect Control; Organic Gardening; Weed Control; About. Already a Member but Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) adults are similar in size to striped cucumber beetle adults and are yellow-green except for their black heads and 12 black spots on their backs. There are several strategies you can use if you spot cucumber beetles popping up in your garden. Exclusion Screens: For those growing in high tunnels, it can be effective to install insect exclusion screens to prevent cucumber beetles from damaging the crops (Figure 2). Article from thefreerangelife.com. One of the most problematic insect pests that organic vegetable growers have to deal with is the striped cucumber beetle. 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