How To Control Cucumber Beetles. The Science Behind Treatment & Prevention Of Cucumber Beetles.

When it comes to cucumber beetles the reality is that these guys will come back every year if you do not take the proper precautions to eliminate them. These guys will overwinter in the soil, mulch and plant debris this means treating the substrate below the plant is key to cucumber beetle elimination.
Nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) - bit.ly/3SFo9eP
Bacillus thuringiensis (All Caterpillar Control-cabbage moth, horn worms) bit.ly/3p7b4gT
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Ashley is a soil scientist who has had a passion for plants since she was a small child. In the long summers as a child, she would garden alongside her grandmother and it was then that she realized her love for greenery. With years of great studying, Ashley had begun her post-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan.
At first, her second love, animals, was the career path she chose but while doing her undergrad she realized that her education would take her elsewhere. And with that, four years later she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in science and a major in Soil Science.
Some of Ashley’s interests are KZbin, in which she posts informative videos about plants and gardening. The focus of Ashley’s KZbin channel is to bring science to gardening in a way that is informative but also helpful to others learning to garden. She also talks about the importance of having your own garden and the joys of gardening indoors. Ashley continues to study plants in her free time and hopes to expand her KZbin channel as well as her reach to up-and-coming gardeners.
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This description or comments section may contain links to affiliate websites. I receive a commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such a link. This includes the gardening in Canada website. You should assume all links both on the gardening in Canada KZbin, Blog, and all other social media are affiliates and I will receive compensation.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Here is the updated video without the audio issues! ❤️❤️ Nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) - bit.ly/3SFo9eP Bacillus thuringiensis (All Caterpillar Control-cabbage moth, horn worms) bit.ly/3p7b4gT

[@lindaw2598]

So happy that I found your video. This is my first experience with cucumber wilt and I couldn't figure out what was going on since I was not seeing any pests. This evening I went outside to inspect the plants and saw one beetle. So far it is only affecting the cucumbers, however now I know to watch for it on the other plants you mentioned

[@1polynation169]

I have usually started from seed and I'm a balcony gardener . I think thats why I haven't had many pests...but!!!! I had a problem with spider mites this year . I'm convinced I brought them home on strawberry seedlings from the local "garden " store (rhymes with blows lol ). I managed to get rid of them thru isolation ( and prayer lol) but not before they took out my strawberries, cilantro and sunflowers ! The lesson I learn from this is there is likely less chance of pests (as a container gardener) if you always start from seed and be extra careful when shopping for seedings ! Stay bright ! plants love light cheers

[@GardeningInCanada]

yes! very good point.

[@kele1264]

I've heard of that clay! It's used on fruit trees! I would use whatever works to keep my food growing well. Thanks for this video, Ashley. It's good to know about the beetles overwintering in the soil, and how to stop them at that level. Last time I gardened I had more pest pressure than ever before. Really frustrating and overwhelming. The winters are "too warm", and pests aren't being killed off by the cold anymore. Also, pests that were more typical in regions south of here have been able to migrate north and make things even worse. I'll be ready next time. Thanks for the advice and the links!

[@chili7425]

Last year I had a big cucumber beetle issue. So this year I did not plant any of the squash cucumber plants. Wanted to just give it a year. I find this video informative because I did not know about the beats and other plants that they eat on. But I have not seen any of the cucumber beetles this year. I am planning on planting cucumbers next year. Last year I did use diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap. I had very little success, but did work to a point. I eventually went to a insecticide. But did knock them down enough that I could actually start growing cucumbers and get a small harvest. Here in Nova Scotia we do have a very acidic and clay soil.

[@nikanj6]

Great video. Thanks. No cucumber beetles this season. But aphids and spider mites along with prehistoric size grasshoppers have been brutal in Zone 7a

[@GardeningInCanada]

prehistoric size HAHAH love this

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Planting on July 1-4, beetles eating in other areas and a floating row cover on the crop keeps them out and beetles don’t know you are growing yummies they like.

[@dianafigueroa6764]

I mulch with shredded cedar. Are you suggesting that I should remove it after the season?

[@lindalou3635]

Thanks so much for this video! I have struggled with cucumber beetles this year. I also lost more than half of my pole beans to Japanese beetles……

[@GardeningInCanada]

NO! Those dirty buggers

[@kele1264]

I can't stand Japanese beetles (or any pests for that matter). But the Japanese beetles are huge and they fly right into me! During the season, I can hear them hitting the house! so gross!

[@jonathanhao1640]

Hi, do you use perlite for your indoor plants? Does it make the room dusty?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I have never found this

[@MB-hq6in]

Where can you buy nemaseek nemotodes in canada? And what spinosad spray do you recommend?

[@carlakelly6758]

10:38 pm Hi Ashley, thanks for this video, it was very helpful. How can I have less pill bugs in my container garden. I don't have a lot of room so space is very limited.

[@pricekeryn1]

Hi. I had a horrible experience with the Bor vine and cucumber beetles this past summer. I do not want to use any chemicals. What can I do this winter to prevent this problem in the spring again

[@wbshappy1]

Do you have a video on what kind of holes pests make? I haven't seen slugs or snails, but I do have a hole in a bell pepper plant leaf, that is about 5 % of that leaf. It's well away from the edges, and not running through a vein. Any idea? What's the best practice? I saw a light green grasshopper in my volunteer squash plant earlier today. I'm thinking spinosad and or BT(k). Do you agree? I'm in Zone 6b.

[@coastalcrocus]

Hi there! Great video on cucumber beetles - had only a small number of them this year but my neighbor was over run with the little buggers - the problem that I have in my raised beds is with an over abundance of earwigs - have set the usual oil/soy sauce traps each season but they still obliterate many of my plants - any suggestions?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I will maybe do a video on this!

[@michelemarble6799]

Ashley cucumber beetles and squash bugs have overrun my garden. What can I do before the snow in Maine to get rid of these pests that have destroyed my cucabits? Would this be a good time to apply nematodes? Or should I wait till next spring?

[@riverunner9978]

I’m in Maine also experiencing these striped cucumber beetles for the second year, 22/23. In fifty years of organic gardening. What have you been experiencing. I’ve used everything natural with out resolving this issue. I feel they’ll be here in 24 also.

[@dreamlovermimi9458]

I believe i have them! Does Insecticidal soap spray and neem oil spray help get rid of them?!?!?!? All i have right now

[@jamesfrankland38thangs58]

Grate video. So I have a bug on my squash that I have no idea what it is. However, it eats the skin of zucchini and somehow badly damage butternut. They are not stink bugs but big like stink bugs and more rounded then stink bugs. I have sprayed them with dish soap and water but it seemed to make them eat more. Do you know what they and how the get rid of them? But they don't look any thing like the bugs you have shown in this video. Thank you so much in advance and thanks for sharing🤝💯

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for sharing!

[@guadalupecotto6301]

My garden has cucumber beetles and squash bugs. The cucumber beetles destroyed my cucumber plants. And squash bugs killed two zucchini plants. I'm in Chicago. I'd love to know what to do to have a better season next summer. Thanks!

[@gaasyendietha5070]

Could you make a video about pests on apple trees ? I have worms that curl the leafs and make my tree suffer 😢

[@groussac]

Ashley, an off-topic question about squash bug eggs. If I spray them with soap, will that prevent them from hatching? Soap is supposed to be a surfactant so I thought it might work. I'll experiment, but thought it wouldn't hurt to ask the expert.

[@iboughtmoreyarn2894]

I have cucumber infestation been dealing with for 3 years now. I'll have to try the clay and considering lady bugs!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Good luck

[@begin.again_jen]

This year my eggplants were afflicted by a beetle that is (I think) the Colorado Potato Beetle. I think they also ate the leaves off of a specific new type of geranium I was trying (they may have come to my garden onboard of one of 2 baskets of those flowers). I am just north of Kingston ON (Zone 5B) and I really want to have some plans up my sleeve for next spring as I suspect they will now overwinter in my soil. Thank you so much for this channel!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh no! What did you try this year to contain them? I’ll do a video on fall soil prep for pests.

[@sharontahir9694]

If the cucumber beetles overwinter in the soil does that mean that since I haven't planted any veggies in my garden for two years I shouldn't have an issue with them this year?

[@marcs8975]

Thank you for reposting

[@GardeningInCanada]

No problem!

[@mariacortez4103]

I have tons of cucumber bottles, and I don't know how to get rid of them, not just that, spider mites, aphids, stink bugs, sometimes mealybugs, it's awful, and I grow vegetables to sell, but I don't want to spray what do you think I should do, thank,for your advice.

[@xyrw236]

I had a nice-sized patio garden with some cucumbers and melons, but no matter what I did, I could not get rid of the cucumber beetles, even though I was growing them in containers. It's been about 6 years since I did any gardening and would like to try it again, this time without the battle of the beetle....cucumber and Japanese.

[@johnnyfatsacks5209]

They gave every one of my cucumbers wilting disease. I 3d modelled and printed a bug catcher tool and got over 30 in one day but still couldn't save any plants. I'm trying trap plants and marigolds this year with some neem oil

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Always great information

[@hhwippedcream]

Ashley, what is the most opulant climax plant community found on serpentine soils? Thinking Ultramafic South Santa Clara Valley, California.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

That’s interesting. I haven’t seen any cucumber beetles this year. I till my beds just before a crop goes in, I wonder if that physical disturbance of the soil helps control the beetles while in their soil phase? I have noticed that a never have to protect transplants with cutworm collars after tilling. I didn’t realize that cucumber beetles attacked so many other crops too! Klaus

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yea so any form of tillage would also help with control

[@kele1264]

I've never heard of cutworm collars! I'm going to look them up. Last time I grew zucchini, I found cutworms in the soil. I felt so defeated after having tried so hard to keep up with other pests. It was just one more thing.

[@australianbirdgal2786]

Ashley could you please do a video on eradicating mole crickets. I’m so tired of sneaking around the garden in ninja mode after sunset trying to catch the little buggers! Thankyou

[@NuggetFarm2011]

I have a horrible infestation of cucumber beetles. They are hard to catch because they see you coming and fly away. I also have Spider mites and some sort of beetle eating my green beans. I live in Missouri and its been very hot and dry this year. The only method of treatment I have used is neem oil and D.E. and they are unaffected by them. I am trying to improve my soil.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I agree they have be so difficult to deal with

[@PrairieScum]

For hand picking just get a 99 cent squirt bottle from walmart and spray them with water. It will keep them from flying off, then you pick them off and squish them. Also leave a light on in the house after dark. They will land on the window to get to the light and you can squish them.

[@svetlanadyshko7836]

Why are the cucumber beatles attacking/residing in my dahlias?

[@alwaysvictory2135]

Thankfully, I haven't had any cucumber beetle issues this year. However, I got aphids all over my dill, and cabbage worms munching on my cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower. Would love some advice on how to manage those guys. Thanks a bunch!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes I had aphids too! ill do a video on these buggers

[@davec1117]

Thanks for this, maybe time to give the cucumber family of plants a try again. And a pest i'd like to see gone or how to deal with is the pepper maggot, bane of my pepper patch. Thanks!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Great idea!

[@gcoates7]

Ive struggled with them as well, mosquito netting solved my issues

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Preying mantis good also

[@jacobbrizammito7187]

The term “nature tax” is new to me. I guess in Canada everything is tax. I just say that say “everybody wants to eat”. Gots have some pests to feed your predators.

[@lisapulkrabek7334]

I have heard that the Native Americans used to plant 3 seeds, one for God, one for the birds and one for themselves. So that could be the 30% tax there.

[@tjgreen7485]

Spinosad had very little effect on cucumber beetle in experience. There were many on my squash especially.

[@GardeningInCanada]

WOW! thats insane

[@MB-hq6in]

Where did you get spinosad

[@faith840]

The TEXAS ORGANIC REARCH CENTER suggests using orange oil and molasses mixed in water for organic pest control including ants. Do you think it’s truly organic and safe to use on vegetables?

[@meadowsz5390]

I'm from the US but I'm curious about how to fight vine borers militia cucurbitae. I've had some pretty bad issues with it.

[@Timmyliza]

This year cucumber beetles are absolutely crazy for me. I would be standing over my cucumber patch and watching them fly one after another on my plants 😢. I wonder if there's a scent they hate, like maybe garlic?

[@DahVoozel]

I threw away all of my cucumber plants last year because they succumbed to wilt, hopefully took the beetles with it. This year I plan a soil drench with spinosad when the warm season transplants go out.

[@DebRoo11]

Virtually impossible to row cover trellised melons , cucumbers and huge sprawling pumpkins and squashes 😔 and they're in the soil, youre just trapping them in. It's so frustrating. I don't do garden tax. There's more than enough world out there for pests, they don't need my tiny piece of garden lol

[@dianafigueroa6764]

Cucumber beetles are awful. This is the first year I got up the nerve to physically pluck them off my cucumbers and squash. One thing that I have found helpful is to place yellow bowls filled with soapy water yellow sticky traps around the gardens, which do attract and kill lots of these bugs. When I pick off the beetles, I toss them in the bowls.

[@joecalio6489]

They love tomatillo plants ... i just found out!

[@CharlieB_P2ST]

Didn't you post this video previously?

[@GardeningInCanada]

I DID! so many people had audio issues and asked for a repost

[@juniper4915]

Do you have a video on ants and raspberry plants. How do I get rid of those?

[@anniewildmush1284]

ants are not a problem, you probably have aphids

[@GardeningInCanada]

Ill do an ant video!

[@juniper4915]

@@anniewildmush1284 eww

[@anniewildmush1284]

@@juniper4915 look very close... ant dont go up and down for nothing. if u do not have aphids i would not do anything. even with aphids.. if it doesnt detroy the plant... i would leave it... just wash your fruits before ;-)

[@juniper4915]

@@anniewildmush1284 I went back out to have a look. I found some earwigs but didn’t notice any aphids. I will go out again tomorrow when it’s brighter outside.

[@troycaldwell4018]

I like your natures tax idea. Makes sense

[@achilders385]

Pyrethrins also work

[@debbithompson2181]

Oh yeah just beginning to go through the cucumber beetles again this year... it's a whole different area miles from last years garden still here they are!!!! Terrible and earlier than last year.

[@Bichonfrise369]

%30 our mama need to do her job. 👍

[@GardeningInCanada]

exactly

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Have you tried beneficial nematodes for the soil to attack the larvae? Just a thought.

[@kathpatnode]

I modified a kid’s insect capture toy and have been very successful sucking up both cucumber beetles and squash bugs (all but eggs). The toy sucks them up before they can drop or fly. Then I just empty the cylinder into soapy water.

[@backyardhorticulturist]

Battling Powder Mildew. Avoiding using Neem oil, I have it under control so to speak but can't seem to illuminate it-Trying not to get to obsessed 🤣 I guess nature tax, Never thought about that philosophy

[@GardeningInCanada]

Did you see my video on the whey?

[@timgutter2708]

They get worse every year unless you have space enough to rotate crops far away from last years planting. Pull all plants out in the fall and get rid of them because as she said the bugs overwinter in the crop residue. Then, when that doesn't work, order some Sevin on line or buy cucumbers in the store which were grown with pesticides because no grower can afford to lose 30% of their crop.

[@hhwippedcream]

Cotton/Roselle/Malvaceae?

[@hhwippedcream]

You are providing such a wonderful public service by practicalizing IPM. We have tolerances that the media tries to make moot (see a bug, spray it). A soli PhD from Davis told me once that destroying all your pests, will destroy the natural managers of the pest and cause a cascade of issues. You are going to be a youtube mentor for sure!

[@hhwippedcream]

Recommend getting egg sacs for lacewings if going chemical free. Sow sunflowers and leave the stolk as brood habitat. Mine are so loaded with those bogey-looking egg sacs and after year 3 have had very tiny aphid issues.

[@GardeningInCanada]

This statement is SO ACCURATE

[@carolyn6001]

Cucumber beetles are horrible here EVERY year. No judgement frim me to anyone on hiw to control or manage the pests. Squash bugs are just as bad but cc beetles do far more extensive damage than squash bugs. We feed them a stead diet of different class insecticides. Organic, natural and synthetic 😢😢😢😢 and still cant get ahead of them.

[@meganfraser2070]

Flea beetles

[@GardeningInCanada]

I had them so bad this year!

[@meganfraser2070]

@@GardeningInCanada they were the worst on my kale this year. My garden is right off a field and pasture. Does that okay a part? I do rotate everything in the garden.

[@TheLowLandGardener]

Nature is taxing me too much

[@denisefaith5204]

gardner snakes

[@mr.rightone6588]

2 years I have killed all my cucumbers, now I'm pissed.

[@raelynnjones2211]

My WHOLE GARDEN is being attacked. Over 6000 square feet

[@PlantObsessed]

Cucumber beetle and stink bugs.

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@GardeningInCanada]

😀😀

[@daniellebailey6802]

Ugh I hate them so much lol

[@GardeningInCanada]

Agreed!

[@mattg6472]

Lol yeah but seriously they are just showing us there is somthing out of balance in that spot. They got too much food source.. weak cucurbits

[@GlendaNeals]

I have 3 acres mixed with different trees and plants but they only flock to my elm trees and eat all the green off leaving white skeleton leafs . I have 3 elm trees at least 20 feet apart. So they are literally targeting my Elms. But they stay away from my veg garden. Im not willing to barter with them, i want them gone! I hand pick everyone i see. All winter long i see random ones crawling up curtains, windows, especially when it freeze or rains. They must thrive in heat! I also have a healthy amount of lacewings and ladybugs but i never see them eating any. Im In Zone 8a mojave desert. Thank you in advance for any additional info. 🥒🪲☠️