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Brampton Ontario

Hi Guy, Could someone tell me what dammage cucumber beatles do to you pumpkin plant. I have found some in the flowers of my pumpkins. So far i they are eating the pollen from the flowers but thats about it. Do they do any other dammage? If i spray the flowers with that roeneon stuff will it dammage the flower or pollen at all? Thanks

7/3/2005 2:16:35 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Not only do cucumber beetles destroy the pollen you need for your females, but they will also eat the leaves of the plants and the worst thing they do is carry Bacterial Wilt. Of the top ten pest dangers to your plants, cuke beetles rate in the top three.
This my first year growing AG's, so I have never seen a BW infected pumpkin plant. I have seen it in cucumbers though. If it affects pumpkins like it does cucumbers, by the time you discover your plants are infected it's all over. One day you notice some minor wilting, and within a week, the entire plant is dead. I have to assume the effects are similar in pumpkins.
Cuke beetles are the number one carrier of BW. If you have them, spray right away. Don't worry about the flowers they have already been in, because not only have they probably already destroyed the pollen, but the flower can't be used in a controlled cross. Male flowers must be protected or removed for a controlled cross just as the female must be covered before she opens. This prevents cross contamination of pollen from another male on a different plant.
Spray those beetles!

7/3/2005 8:31:20 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Last year, when I was growing regular pumpkins, I had cucumber beetles and found a dusting of "Sevin" to be pretty effective. If I have any this year on my AG's, I'm going to try the liquid form with my presurized sprayer.

But, I would spray or dust ASAP. Even the very few bugs that I found caused quite a bit of damage to my leaves.

7/3/2005 8:47:31 AM

Ga.

Mosiac Virus!

7/3/2005 9:09:45 AM

Destruction can happen in days. Cukes chomped on mine for two days before I sprayed Sevin (wipes them out). They weakened leaves and when the wind came it snapped most of their veins and are hanging limp. Get em early or they will get your plants.

7/3/2005 12:18:58 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Cuke Beetles vector Bacterial Wilt. It takes only one.

7/3/2005 1:04:42 PM

Canada

Do lots of cuke beetles actually carry this virus?

Dave

7/3/2005 1:29:41 PM

Montoursville, PA

Dave...........if a lot did no one could raise a pumpkin.

Fear sells preventatives....which by the way I nor no one in my knowledge applys anything as a virus prevent.

Just having a good healthy soil is the primary prevent and of course attack the cuke bettle, from as many angles, as you deem sensible.

We are hearing reports that cuke bettle are diminishing, in some patches, that are or have been receiving regular molasses feeding techniques.

7/3/2005 7:11:36 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

i agree with doc i am a regular user of molasses foliar feeding and ive noticed far fewer cuke beetles when i do see a beetle i hit it with liquid sevin and in one patch im trying some neem oil they dont like this either! just my two scents worth!

7/3/2005 11:55:22 PM

Brampton Ontario

I have noticed that all the cuke beetles are in all of my pumpkin flowers but i have not seen any on the leaves. There is no dammage to the leaves either, they look fine.

I have peppers growing in pots close to the pumpkin patch and those leaves have been eating alot. Perhaps it was the cukes that did that?

7/4/2005 12:07:54 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

You jinxed me! I just found a cucumber beetle in my patch today! I guess now I'll have to put my money where my mouth is and get some Sevin.

7/4/2005 1:53:56 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Get rid of the buggers, why play Russian Roulette with something that we invest so much time, effort, money and care into?

7/4/2005 7:04:26 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I can't speak for Cucumber Beetles vectoring Virus' but Aphids sure do. I can atest to Cuke Beetles vectoring Bacterial Wilt which is why we control them.

7/4/2005 8:50:57 AM

Indiana

We have barely any cucumber beetles this year, supposedly the funky spring with the really hot weather left the hatching beetles with nothing to eat, and then the following cool period messed up their egg laying and so there are barely any now.

Tom

7/4/2005 11:36:07 AM

hamilton,Ontario

every year they show up and shortly thereafter (1 2 weeks) my pumpkin is a goner.........5 years straight....Not sure it is the actual cuke beetles but it has always been the same year after year.......so this yeaar PREVENTION.......just waitng ill all is pollinated...havented seeen none yet.......figers are crossed tightly

7/4/2005 8:36:22 PM

Ontario, Canada

I have had success using diatomaceous earth to kill cucumber beatles. There are always lots in my regular pumpkin field. Hardly any at home on my AG's.

7/4/2005 9:45:23 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Okay, what is diatomaceous earth? Thanks for all info. Peace Wayne

7/5/2005 6:14:32 AM

New Hampshire

DE is a type of soil used in swimming pool filters

7/5/2005 6:40:42 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Cuke Beetles are here with a passion. I have kept the pesticide sprays up fortunately, and yesterday picked over 30 dead beetles off the plant leaves. They were all very small striped variety, so I believe them to be the second wave. They must be attracted to pumpkins because I have never seen them this thick in the garden before.

7/5/2005 7:40:47 AM

New Hampshire

I have used DE as a natural pest control agent for years. It is the crushed and processed shells of marine creatures. It seems to be silica, and works like this........the crushed particles are very sharp and abrasive. This causes injury to the shells, mouth parts and legs of bugs, grubs, flies, ants, fleas, and other pesky bugs. These injuries cause the victims to dehydrate and die within 48 hrs. It can be tilled into your soil, dusted on your plants, even dusted on pets, or livestock. I have even fed it to my pigs and chickens, at 1% to 2% of feed weight. Best of all, it contains no chemicals!!!! It is completely earth friendly. I buy it 50lbs at a time for $12. Don't be fooled into paying the high organic prices. Just go to your local pool supply place and get the stuff used in pool filters

7/5/2005 7:43:37 AM

Somers, CT

DE is used by pest control people to get rid of bees nests. My neighbor had it used to get one out of his attic. As far as cuke beetles I lost a plant to BW and have been almost infested. I have been spraying concentrated Sevin and using Ortho systemic. both work fine. Lots of dead stripe and spotted all over. They are going away slowly.

7/5/2005 11:04:37 AM