Adults are oblong, yellow with black oblong stripes, banded (horizontal) stripes, or spots. The larvae are whitish and the eggs are orange and usually laid in the soil near host plants. Adults overwinter in ground debris and emerge in spring when temps reach about 65 degrees.
These beetles carry Erwinia tracheiphila which causes bacterial wilt. It overwinters in their intestines. The most destructive ofthe beetles is the oblong striped beetle which specifically attacks cucurbit plants. All of the beetles chew leaves and flowers when they aren't infecting your plants with the wilt. There is no cure for the bacterial wilt. They can also spread mosaic viruses and other serious plant diseases.
They attack cucurbits as said before, eggplant, beans (both lima and snap), muskmelons, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons.
Controls include barriers such as netting to keep the beetles off. Cucumber traps made of cucumber peelings and rinds of most canteloupes will give you an idea that you have a problem by putting rotenone on the peelings and rinds and placing them where beetles are expected. If you have plenty beetles show up, you know you have a full blown emergence going on. However, traps may also attract beetles feasting on wild plants and bring them to your garden.
Plant a trap crop to spot early infestation. Try radishes or potted miniature roses among your cucumber plants. Beetles seem to attack weaker plants first. Plant a cucumber in a pot in the house so it will be bigger than those you start outdoors. Pull it up and let it wilt. The beetles will go for it and you can pick them off at will. Then cover your good plants once you have attracted the bugs to the wilted ones.
Botanical controls include pyrethrum and rotenone in spray or in those traps I spoke of before.
Prevent infestation by cleaning up all plant debris, dust diatemous earth around the base of plants to kill larvae emerging to eat and also create a barrier to egg laying. Use netting and seedling barriers. Sprinkle wood ash around the base of each plant when the vines are 5 inches tall or encircle with a 3 inch wide trench filled with wood ash. There are also varieties that are resistant to spotted beetles such as Butternut and Royal Acorn squash. Blue Hubbard, Green Hubbard, and Royal Acorn resist striped beetles. Resistant cucumber varieties include Ashley, chipper, Fletcher, Niagara, and Stono.Pumpkin varieties are Dickinson field, King of the Mannoth, and Mammoth chili.
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