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Greenville,Pa.

With all the technology out there, why hasn't someone come up with a sex attractant for the cuke beetle like they did for the Jap Beetle.
I sprayed with Malathion(50%) and they keep comming back.
This afternoon I sprayed with Liquid Sevin. At dark, I checked again, and they were back. I sprayed again. The directions say to spray every 7 days. Is this right?
Is there a sacraficial goat that I can use or plant in the patch? I have heard that Tansy(sp), an herb would discourage cuke beetles. Has anyone tried this.
What happens if I spray Morning and night? Will this hurt my plants?
Thanks in advance,
wildb

6/25/2003 11:04:52 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Not doing something right, 1TBS of sevin to a gallon kills cuke beatles dead. The Malathion should have done the trick too. What are you spraying with and what dose? You sure them cuke beetles are not dead, and just laying there. Spray to often and you will get a chemical burn.

6/26/2003 12:55:08 AM

Greenville,Pa.

I'm using 1TBS of Sevin to the gallon and after spraying, they do die. But there are more and more that come to the plant after spraying. And they don't look like they are dead. In fact, they look very active. About half are mating! Wanting to produce even more Cuke beetles. Will they eventually eat the Sevin then die? Will there ever be an end? If I kill all the beetles that have hatched this spring, will that be the end?

6/26/2003 7:10:07 AM

Western Pa.

wildb,

I tried growing the tansy, after I read something in a gardening book, it never did germinate well so I don't know how well it works. Last season Tim Parks was ambushed by cuke beetles, there were literally hundreds on every single plant. If someone nearby is growing cucurbits you are probably getting travelers from their patch. I've had many pumpkins stop growing in the 400# range, and blame those beetles! After switching to systemic and Scimitar, I haven't (knock on wood) had those problems. I've only seen one so far this season a few days ago, and it was DEAD!

your neighbor,

kilr

6/26/2003 7:45:23 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Same issue here! spray them in the morning, clouds of them by nitefall, last year hardly any cc's this swarms of biblical proportions!
no new damage so i know the spray is working but there is just so many of them.


Glenn

6/26/2003 8:38:22 AM

Central Connecticut

I've have a big cuc beetle problem as well. I tried something new this year. Yellow bug traps...it's basically a yellow piece of plastic with two sided tape on it. the bug are attracted to the yellow and stick forever...If you check out my diary I have a picture of one which is full of bugs...cuc and others. I don't think they are good enough to stand alone but the do help...Chris

6/26/2003 12:49:39 PM

syracuse, ny

Systemic Insecticide use in 2000 by Len Stellpflug
read this in the how-to section of this website.
i have not seen Admire actually work just yet.
when i first got into AGs 3 years ago, i had a whole bunch of cuke beetles that destroyed about a dozen Prizewinner and Big Max plants i had out in the back patch. the AGs were unaffected, as they were in the 'front patch' about 500 feet away. and then, probably due to environmental conditions more than anything, i haven't seen more than just an occasional one or two in the past year or 2....must be i'm about due----YIKES! either way, i would read up on Admire, as it is a valid option for getting rid of the little monsters.
there are many ways to kill a monster. in the case of the cucumber beetle, i have often thought that quarantining the patch and flooding it with carbon dioxide would kill them.
hey, they need air too! problem here is the earthworms would probably also bite (no pun intended) the dust.
and anyone in a greenhouse environment might also face the risk. another thing is---don't cucumber beetles have any enemies??? like a really big ladybug??? heck, they probably get along just fine. lol. are there any sounds that will deter cucumber beetles??? maybe thay don't have any ears, but some kinds of flies do! what about a FREAKIN' BUG ZAPPER! cucumber beetles are active at night, too, so why would they NOT be attracted to the light??? 'pal
if anyone tries these things, i'd like to know how it goes.

6/26/2003 4:36:20 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Battle (Scimitar) & Merit. Life's good!

6/26/2003 6:02:50 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Oh yeah. The question. Pheromone traps are available. And they usually attract many more pests to your garden than you'd get without them. If you could plant several "orgy stations" around your patch, but at least 70 yards away, they might work. Hope the neighbors like Cuke Beetle orgies though.

6/26/2003 6:05:11 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I've seen only 2 cuke beetles so far. Tourism is slow this year in the Appalachian high country.

6/26/2003 6:49:00 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I use the Sevin dust instead of the liquid as much as possible. Seems to continue to work until it rains or someting else washes it off. I'll spray some systemic in addition to the Sevin before too long.

6/26/2003 10:17:49 PM