Cucumber Beetles

[Chicky2]

Grrrr. They overwinter, so I have them this year, too. I never could get rid of them last year. Anyone have any suggestions? We have only 4 hills of plants this year, so hopefully I can get rid of the little buggers...

[FrozenMommy]

Have you tried baccillum thuringiensis? It's a common natural pesticide that is used for many types of vegetable beetles. It attacks the larvae, but breaks down quickly in sunlight and doesn't affect other types of bugs. Comes usually in powder form and is sprinkled on the plants every 4-6 days until bugs are gone. I have used it very successfully for potato beetles (that also attacked my sunflowers, squashes, etc etc !).

[Chicky2]

I'll try it! Thanks! I've not heard of it, but I'm still pretty green at this whole gardening thing, lol. This is only my 3rd year.

Oops, I just read that it can kill other types of pretty butterflies....i'd only want to use that as a last resort....

From Motherearthnews..." Before you spray your garden with thuringiensis , though, be aware that this bacterial-warfare weapon is fatal to the caterpillars of all Lepidoptera (an order of insects that includes many lovely, and relatively harmless, moths and butterflies) . . . "

[beebalmmama]

Where do they attack? I just lost two cucumber transplants this past week. They look like they deteriorated in the main stem just under the soil, the roots looked pretty small too, but it was the stem that was just mush. Any other options besides the pesticide in pp? We don't have many butterflies around and would hate to kill any we might get.

[Chicky2]

My plants always get funky looking stems, leaves, etc...And the fruits grow in a funny shape, and are yellowed instead of green. I'm assuming it's the beetles since I never saw any other culprit.