Cucumber beetles - Ask Extension
It seems our neighbor hood is being inundated by cucumber beetles are decimating vegitables and flowers. We don't want to kill bees but really need s...
Knowledgebase
Cucumber beetles #879798
Asked August 01, 2024, 5:15 PM EDT
It seems our neighbor hood is being inundated by cucumber beetles are decimating vegitables and flowers. We don't want to kill bees but really need some help with how to kill the beetles. After researching the internet we tried Bee Safe, doesn't seem to work. Any recommendations we be very much appreciated.
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Randy,
Yes you can do some things that will help get rid of some of the cucumber beetles.
You can keep them off your plants by covering the plants with row cover. this is a spun polyester type material found in garden stores. Your beans, tomatoes, potatoes and any plant that does not need a pollinator to develop fruits or veggies can be covered. That includes all herbs, all brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel's sprouts, kale, collards, radishes, and more) celery, cilantro, lettuces, and tomatillos. All of these plants either will self pollinate or do not need pollination.
You must remove the bugs before covering the plants. That can be done with a hard spray of water and looking for them in the plants. When you feel you have gotten them all to fly away or squished them, cover the plants with the row cover. You must make sure that all sides are completely down with no openings for them to enter.
If you have drip tape or soaker hoses in the bed you do not need to remove the row cover. Lightweight row cover will allow light, air, and water into the bed. The plants will be able to develop normally.
The plants that need pollination are your squash plants. Take a small paintbrush and gather pollen from one blossom and then put that pollen in the female blossom which will have a little bulb between the petals and the stem. You are pollinating the plant. Then do the same thing with clearing out the bugs and putting row cover of the plants.
You can also spray with a homemade spray of Castille soap 1 tablespoon, 1 tablespoon of oil with water in a squirt bottle. Shake often and spray.
Ladybugs, braconid wasps, and green or brown lacewings are natural predators of cucumber beetles. Avoid spraying the homemade insecticidal soap if you see any predators in action.
Do not buy lady bug adults at the garden store, they will fly away when released. Contact an insectary - Google them in Portland. They have larva they will send (live) to you and you sprinkle them around the plants. If you have questions regarding their products ask to speak to their expert.
You should also mulch around your plants to keep them from laying eggs in the soil. You can take your hand first and disturb the soil to crush any eggs that might in the soil without damaging the roots.
They like to eat the silk off of corn ears which keeps the plant from making kernels of corn. Each silk is responsible for one kernel of corn. Take some veggie oil, VERY LITTLE, and pour a drop or two on the very top of the corn ear. This keeps them away and will also keep the corn worm from entering the corn ear.
In about 3 to 4 weeks they will start laying eggs in the corn roots. If there are enough larva they can dislodge the roots and the corn stalk will fall over. Again mulch heavily around the corn.
Each of these methods does not require pesticides although once you make the homemade soap spray it is considered a pesticide.
Cucumber beetles are vectors for disease so getting rid of them is important. They can transmit diseases to the plants.
With the use of predator insects over time, you will see a reduction in these bugs. Remember to mulch so they cannot lay eggs in the soil and remove all weeds in the area as they will use them to 'rest stops'.
You can knock the beetles to the ground and crush them or place a piece of cardboard with petroleum jelly smeared all over it to catch them when you knock them to the ground.
Handheld vacuums have been suggested but they will suck in your blossoms as well so it is not advisable.
You can also take a pencil thin bottle brush and disturb them while they are in the squash flowers (no bees present). They will leave the center of the flower and walk or fly out. Use the petroleum jelly board to catch them by placing it in front of the flower or take them off with your hands and crush them.
I am sorry you are having this problem. I hope these suggestions help you.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.
Yes you can do some things that will help get rid of some of the cucumber beetles.
You can keep them off your plants by covering the plants with row cover. this is a spun polyester type material found in garden stores. Your beans, tomatoes, potatoes and any plant that does not need a pollinator to develop fruits or veggies can be covered. That includes all herbs, all brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel's sprouts, kale, collards, radishes, and more) celery, cilantro, lettuces, and tomatillos. All of these plants either will self pollinate or do not need pollination.
You must remove the bugs before covering the plants. That can be done with a hard spray of water and looking for them in the plants. When you feel you have gotten them all to fly away or squished them, cover the plants with the row cover. You must make sure that all sides are completely down with no openings for them to enter.
If you have drip tape or soaker hoses in the bed you do not need to remove the row cover. Lightweight row cover will allow light, air, and water into the bed. The plants will be able to develop normally.
The plants that need pollination are your squash plants. Take a small paintbrush and gather pollen from one blossom and then put that pollen in the female blossom which will have a little bulb between the petals and the stem. You are pollinating the plant. Then do the same thing with clearing out the bugs and putting row cover of the plants.
You can also spray with a homemade spray of Castille soap 1 tablespoon, 1 tablespoon of oil with water in a squirt bottle. Shake often and spray.
Ladybugs, braconid wasps, and green or brown lacewings are natural predators of cucumber beetles. Avoid spraying the homemade insecticidal soap if you see any predators in action.
Do not buy lady bug adults at the garden store, they will fly away when released. Contact an insectary - Google them in Portland. They have larva they will send (live) to you and you sprinkle them around the plants. If you have questions regarding their products ask to speak to their expert.
You should also mulch around your plants to keep them from laying eggs in the soil. You can take your hand first and disturb the soil to crush any eggs that might in the soil without damaging the roots.
They like to eat the silk off of corn ears which keeps the plant from making kernels of corn. Each silk is responsible for one kernel of corn. Take some veggie oil, VERY LITTLE, and pour a drop or two on the very top of the corn ear. This keeps them away and will also keep the corn worm from entering the corn ear.
In about 3 to 4 weeks they will start laying eggs in the corn roots. If there are enough larva they can dislodge the roots and the corn stalk will fall over. Again mulch heavily around the corn.
Each of these methods does not require pesticides although once you make the homemade soap spray it is considered a pesticide.
Cucumber beetles are vectors for disease so getting rid of them is important. They can transmit diseases to the plants.
With the use of predator insects over time, you will see a reduction in these bugs. Remember to mulch so they cannot lay eggs in the soil and remove all weeds in the area as they will use them to 'rest stops'.
You can knock the beetles to the ground and crush them or place a piece of cardboard with petroleum jelly smeared all over it to catch them when you knock them to the ground.
Handheld vacuums have been suggested but they will suck in your blossoms as well so it is not advisable.
You can also take a pencil thin bottle brush and disturb them while they are in the squash flowers (no bees present). They will leave the center of the flower and walk or fly out. Use the petroleum jelly board to catch them by placing it in front of the flower or take them off with your hands and crush them.
I am sorry you are having this problem. I hope these suggestions help you.
If you have further questions, please contact us again.