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Pests
Cucumber Beetles on Cucumber Plants
Commonly affects: Cucumis sativus (Cucumber)
Small yellow-and-black striped or spotted beetles feed on leaves, stems, and flowers, and can kill young seedlings outright while spreading bacterial wilt between plants.
Potential Causes
- 1Striped or spotted cucumber beetle adults emerging in spring to feed on young cucurbits
- 2Overwintering adults in garden debris or nearby wild hosts
- 3Larvae also feeding on roots underground
Solution Steps
- 1Cover young seedlings with floating row covers, removing them at flowering for pollinator access
- 2Hand-pick beetles in the early morning when sluggish
- 3Apply a pyrethrin-based spray for heavy infestations in the evening to protect bees
- 4Clear garden debris in autumn to reduce overwintering populations
Prevention Tip
Row covers on seedlings are the single most effective defence â protecting young plants also prevents the bacterial wilt beetles can transmit.
