Cucumber beetle?

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konkreteblond Burleson, TX(Zone 8a) May 24, 2005

What are these and HOW can I get rid of them!? They are everywhere and eating more than their share, especially my Candytuft.

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Night_Bloom Griffin, GA(Zone 8a) May 24, 2005

Looks like cucumber beetle to me, too. The problem is that there aren't very many things to use on them that aren't nasty to other insects like butterflies and bees - Sevin is the recommended stuff for leaf eating beetles. You could try pyrethrin. That migt work and should be short-lived. You might need to retreat if this isn't just a fluke infestation.

When we were in Indiana, I was in a community garden, and the bean beetles (not Mexican - a different kind) would come in in droves and eat the baby bean plants. But if I treated once or twice (in that case with Rotenone) and got the beans past that first wave or two, the beetles mostly disappeared, and then the beans did just fine without needing to be treated again.

The only other thing would be to hand pick, and that might take a while.

Post #1493276
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konkreteblond Burleson, TX(Zone 8a) May 24, 2005

I see these every year, but this year is worse. I'm having some huge problem with a lot of bugs, suddenly! These beetles aren't usually too big of a problem, but they are eating quite a bit now. I can't pick them because they fly. gggrrr

I discovered yesterday that my yarrows are covered in black aphids, my zinnias and a few other things have mealy bugs, and my milkweed has spider mites!! AAAHHH!!! I've NEVER had this many bugs. I guess it's because we have had such a long dry spell? Don't the spider mites thrive on dry and heat? I can't spray anything on those because they are for the Monarchs.

Several of my other gardening friends are having a horrible time with bugs too. They are using a spray that contains Spinosad. I think it's Fertilome. Do you know anything about this? I will try it if it won't kill my good bugs or stay on my plants that the butterfly cats eat.

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Night_Bloom Griffin, GA(Zone 8a) May 25, 2005

As far as I know imidicloprid does not kill Lepidoptera, but it should take care of critters like aphids, mealybugs, etc. I believe Bayer Advanced has imidicloprid - check the label for the active ingredient. I'll double check at work today to see if it can be used on your butterfly feeding plants, but my guess is yes.

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dadto3hubto1 Middletown, MD(Zone 6a) Jun 01, 2005

I have these guys on my Green Beans?? They are eating them alive :(

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