PestChewing insects
Cucumber beetle
Yellow-and-black striped or spotted beetles that chew cucurbit seedlings and spread bacterial wilt, a major pest in North America.
Also known as: Striped cucumber beetle, Spotted cucumber beetle
Symptoms and identification
Holes in leaves and flowers, scarred fruit, and damaged seedlings. Plants may suddenly wilt and die from bacterial wilt carried by the beetles.
Causes
Adults overwinter near gardens and emerge as cucurbits are planted.
Organic treatment
Hand-pick beetles in the morning, use yellow sticky traps, and spray neem oil or kaolin clay on young plants.
Prevention
Cover young plants with row covers until flowering, and use yellow sticky traps.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
Use an insecticide labelled for cucumber beetles, avoiding flowers visited by bees.