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Diabrotica
Diabrotica or Cucumber beetles are common pests of vegetable
plants and other plants here in Cambria California. These beetles resemble
ladybirds, but they are yellow-green in color with black spots or stripes. Adult
Cucumber beetles generally survive the winter in plant debris and weeds. Once summer
arrives, they come out and will attack the leaves and stems of the plants. In
some cases plants can be completely destroyed by Diabrotica.
Adult Diabrotica will also lay yellow-orange colored eggs in the soil at the
base of the tree or plant. These eggs then hatch and the grubs will eat the
roots and stems below the soil. This causes the plants to become stunted or to
die prematurely. These slender white grubs will feed for several weeks, pupate
in the soil and emerge as adults to repeat the process.
Suggested solution
Diabrotica or Cucumber Beetles cannot be completely
eradicated and therefore the only solution is to control them. This can be done
in two ways. The first is through the use of a Pyrethrin based spray, however, the beetles must be
contacted with the spray for this method to be effective. The second way is to
use a spray such as Orthenex garden insect and disease control®, which will have some residual effect on the plant
and keep the beetles away for a short time, this product however, can only be
used on ornamentals.
How to prevent Diabrotica or Cucumber Beetles
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Reduce the possible over wintering spots by removing plant
debris.
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Roses and composite flowers, such as daises and poppies
attract diabrotica, also white and yellow flowers seem to attract them more than
other colored flowers
Products we sell at Cambria Nursery & Florist to control Diabrotica or
Cucumber Beetles
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Cambria Nursery and Florist
