Southern Gardener
Deeply Rooted
Do you think this is why my squash are doing so bad? Now, not only are the squash rotting, the whole plant is looking rather bad.
What can I do to get rid of these things?
I have these buggies in my garden
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Do you think this is why my squash are doing so bad? Now, not only are the squash rotting, the whole plant is looking rather bad.
What can I do to get rid of these things?
digitS'
Garden Master
Mexican bean beetle?
Purdue (link)
I have only infrequently seen them, Joan . . . I bet spinosad would kill the larvae but I don't know about the adults. Probably the only organic way to go is a pyrethrin insecticide.
Based just on reading about the bug, it may not be doing anything to your squash. Perhaps, the squash plants have a fungal rot going on.
Steve
Edited to add: Here is how Wikipedia describes their color: "Its overall color is quite variable, ranging from bright red to rusty brown to golden yellow." Bright red would make it very difficult to separate from its Ladybug cousins.
Purdue (link)
I have only infrequently seen them, Joan . . . I bet spinosad would kill the larvae but I don't know about the adults. Probably the only organic way to go is a pyrethrin insecticide.
Based just on reading about the bug, it may not be doing anything to your squash. Perhaps, the squash plants have a fungal rot going on.
Steve
Edited to add: Here is how Wikipedia describes their color: "Its overall color is quite variable, ranging from bright red to rusty brown to golden yellow." Bright red would make it very difficult to separate from its Ladybug cousins.
momofdrew
Deeply Rooted
I had those on my beans this year and I used safer soap it worked pretty well...the larva is yellow...
Ridgerunner
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Look up "Spotted Cucumber Beetle". I think Steve has the only organic control that will do you much good.
Those things can carry a wilt disease. That might be your problem.
Those things can carry a wilt disease. That might be your problem.
catjac1975
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The photo is a little deceiving. I think it is a striped cucumber beetle also. If the are bright yellow that is what they are. The do some nibbling particularly on seedlings fresh out of the ground. They seem to go underground at the stem and may lay eggs there. HOwever what they do that is the worst is weaken the plant and spread disease. Rotenone is a plant based organic insecticide. Bull's eye also works and is also organic.
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Southern Gardener
Deeply Rooted
I'm pretty sure this is a spotted cucumber beatle
These bugs have yellowish-green colored bodies with black spots or stripes, a black head and are 1/4 inch in length. Eggs are oval in shape, yellowish-orange and laid in the soil nest to host plants. The larvae are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, with a beige to white body, brown head, brown spot on the tail end. Larvae attack plant roots and stems generally in spring for 2 to 6 weeks. The larvae and adults attack asparagus, broad beans, eggplants, potatoes, certain fruit trees, tomatoes, peas, squash, corn (a favorite), cucumbers, potatoes, fruits, and melons. This is not the limit as they will attack over 270 plants in 29 families including flowers and ornamentals! The adults transmit bacterial mosaic and wilts. These bacterial diseases actually overwinters in the beetles' intestines! When they are actively feeding again they transmit the diseases from plant to plant. Symptoms of these diseases are wilting and death of plants. In spring the adults will feed enmass on seedling shoots and leaves. You will see adults feeding mostly on flowering plant flowering parts and pollen during summer. In fall they turn to the upper portions of plants and will also feed on weeds and trees. They infect some stone fruits with brown rot. The striped adults do the most damage to the cucurbit family
Generally there will be one generation per season in colder areas and two to three in more southern climates. They become active early in the spring when temperatures begin to go above 50F. Spotted cucumber beetles do not overwinter in northern areas but migrate in from southern states each year, arriving around June. In the southern states, spotted cucumber beetles emerge two to four weeks after the striped cucumber beetle.
The temps are supposed to dip into the 30's next week - I wonder if that will kill the adults?
These bugs have yellowish-green colored bodies with black spots or stripes, a black head and are 1/4 inch in length. Eggs are oval in shape, yellowish-orange and laid in the soil nest to host plants. The larvae are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, with a beige to white body, brown head, brown spot on the tail end. Larvae attack plant roots and stems generally in spring for 2 to 6 weeks. The larvae and adults attack asparagus, broad beans, eggplants, potatoes, certain fruit trees, tomatoes, peas, squash, corn (a favorite), cucumbers, potatoes, fruits, and melons. This is not the limit as they will attack over 270 plants in 29 families including flowers and ornamentals! The adults transmit bacterial mosaic and wilts. These bacterial diseases actually overwinters in the beetles' intestines! When they are actively feeding again they transmit the diseases from plant to plant. Symptoms of these diseases are wilting and death of plants. In spring the adults will feed enmass on seedling shoots and leaves. You will see adults feeding mostly on flowering plant flowering parts and pollen during summer. In fall they turn to the upper portions of plants and will also feed on weeds and trees. They infect some stone fruits with brown rot. The striped adults do the most damage to the cucurbit family
Generally there will be one generation per season in colder areas and two to three in more southern climates. They become active early in the spring when temperatures begin to go above 50F. Spotted cucumber beetles do not overwinter in northern areas but migrate in from southern states each year, arriving around June. In the southern states, spotted cucumber beetles emerge two to four weeks after the striped cucumber beetle.
The temps are supposed to dip into the 30's next week - I wonder if that will kill the adults?
digitS'
Garden Master
Joan, maybe I should be happy with location . . . again: "Range - Widely dist. except n. Rocky Mtns."
Here is more info on the spotted cucumber beetle Bugnet (link). You can click on the bar with "Taxonomy Browse . . . Data" for more.
Here is a source for insecticide, etc. (link) I have ordered from them and that product recommended but for other purposes.
Steve
where it will be down to 18 by tomorrow morning . . . bet that would slow 'em down
Here is more info on the spotted cucumber beetle Bugnet (link). You can click on the bar with "Taxonomy Browse . . . Data" for more.
Here is a source for insecticide, etc. (link) I have ordered from them and that product recommended but for other purposes.
Steve
where it will be down to 18 by tomorrow morning . . . bet that would slow 'em down
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Southern Gardener
Deeply Rooted
Thanks Steve - that was the same website I was on. It also said you can use hot peppers mixed with garlic and water. I don't have tansy growing, but I do have broccoli and marigolds.
No 18 temps here, but supposed to have severe thunderbooms and rain tomorrow. Maybe that will wash them away.
No 18 temps here, but supposed to have severe thunderbooms and rain tomorrow. Maybe that will wash them away.
