How to Get Rid of a Cucumber Beetle

June 26th, 2009 Posted in Beetles & Ladybugs, Ornamental & Lawn Pests




If you’ve ever grown cucumbers or melons, chances are you’ve had to deal with a pesky little bug known as a cucumber beetle. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert gardener, cucumber beetles can still ruin your entire harvest of cucumbers if you don’t know how to deal with them. This article explains how to get rid of cucumber beetles and enjoy fresh cucumbers once again.


This article will explain:

  • What does a cucumber beetle look like?

  • What are a cucumber beetle’s habits?

  • How can cucumber beetles harm my garden?

  • How can I prevent or kill cucumber beetles?


What does a cucumber beetle look like?

Before you can prevent cucumber beetles, it’s helpful to know what to look for. There are two types of cucumber beetles:

  • Striped cucumber beetle
  • Spotted cucumber beetle

The striped cucumber beetle is yellow with three black stripes down its back. This type of beetle grows to about 1/4″ long.



The spotted cucumber beetle, also known as the southern corn rootworm, is greenish-yellow and has 12 black spots. They can look like green ladybugs.


What are a cucumber beetle’s habits?

You can easily locate the presence of a cucumber beetle by learning about its habits. Cucumber beetles become active in late March as weather begins to warm.They feed on cucumbers, squashes, and melons (including watermelons).

Cucumber beetles lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves, and when the larvae hatch, they eat the roots of cucumber, melon, and other plants. The larvae grow to be adults around early July, when they begin to feed on foliage and flowers. There can be up to three generations of these beetles each summer. The beetles winter in piles of leaves and other debris.


How can cucumber beetles harm my garden?

The cucumber beetle causes damage in five different ways:

  • Destroying seedlings

  • Damaging flowers and foliage

  • Feeding on roots

  • Spreading bacterial wilt disease

  • Spreading cucumber mosaic virus

Cucumber beetles will destroy seedlings and damage flower and foliage by feeding on them. Additionally, the cucumber beetle larvae feed on the roots of these plants, causing damage to the plant.

Bacterial wilt disease is the biggest danger posed by the cucumber beetle. The beetles are attracted to plants harboring the bacterium. When they feed on plants containing the bacterium, they can harbor it in their stomachs all winter. When they begin to feed the following spring, they can spread the disease to a new generation of plants. The first sign of bacterial wilt disease occurs when leaves begin to turn brown or yellow and wilt. Eventually, the entire vine will die as blockages prevent the plant from obtaining nutrients.


Another disease spread by cucumber beetles is cucumber mosaic virus. This virus affects 191 different species of vegetables, including tomatoes, celery, and yes, especially cucumbers. Symptoms including mottled or yellowed leaves and distorted fruit and foliage.


Prevent Cucumber Beetles

There are several simple steps you can follow to help your garden stay cucumber beetle-free:

  • Pick them off

  • Clean your garden

  • Cover up your cucumbers

  • Use insecticides

The first step to eliminating cucumber beetles requires picking them off when you see them. Because they feed early in the morning, this is the best time to spot cucumber beetles.

Next, focus on cleaning up piles of leaves and other garden debris. Cucumber beetles may be hiding or wintering in these areas.

Try covering up your cucumbers with cheesecloths, cones, or a commercial row cover. This will allow sunlight to pass through while keeping beetles at bay.

If none of these techniques work, try an organic insecticide such as EcoSMART Garden Insect Killer. Now you can kill bugs and keep your garden chemical-free.


Jasmine Davis


organic pest control


  1. 49 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!

  2. By Valerie on Jul 7, 2009

    Is it common to have both squash bug and cucumber beetles on cucumbers? I had both last year that killed my cucumbers. This year, I have only found squash bugs so far but buy I’m seeing wilting as well as yellowing and dying of leaves, which is caused by the squash bugs.

  3. By Mark V on Jul 9, 2009

    I’ll try anything at this point!!!! HEEEEELP!!!!

  4. By James K on Jul 9, 2009

    I’ve seen less of these than the squash bugs, but never knew that the wilting, dying leaves were caused by bacteria they carry. I’d love t try EcoSMART on squash bugs. We have children and dogs, and I’m leery of the regular pesticides.

  5. By Robyn on Jul 9, 2009

    What I really need is something that will get rid of thrips! They are trashing my chives. Will any of these help?

  6. By Louise Colston on Jul 9, 2009

    I would love to try any of your EcoSmart products,i raise a very large garden,and i have bugs galoor,seem like my squash and tomatoes are wilting away,there is bugs in the tomatoes,and i can’t figure out why,also i spray the babbage and the worms just keep coming,i will be happy to test your products,thanks Louise in Ky

  7. By Vicki Inman on Jul 9, 2009

    I have some kind of beetle on most of my flowers and some of my garden vegetable plants and they are destroying them. I have used soap spray and other natural sprays but nothing has worked yet. I would love to test your EcoSMART so see if that would help. Thanks!

  8. By Elizabeth on Jul 9, 2009

    Every year that my family and I plant a garden. It starts off to a good start then we notice beetles and other pest ruining our vegetables.It’s good to know that EcoSmart is available. We’re ready to try it to stop these pests. Thanks for thinking of a product that’s safe for children and pets.

  9. By Bob on Jul 9, 2009

    I have cucumber beetles on my squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins. I do not like to use non-organic pesticides, but have not found anything that works yet.

  10. By Dane Evans on Jul 9, 2009

    Sign me up these litlle pest are all over my cucumbers and nothing seems to be working.

  11. By Pat on Jul 9, 2009

    I have cucumber beetles and squash bugs and would love something eviromentally friendly to get rid of them.

  12. By cheryl lang on Jul 9, 2009

    I have a garden full of cucumbersand this would be the best way to deal with them pesty bugs.

  13. By Annette Cooper on Jul 10, 2009

    Dear Sir, I have been growing my own vegestables for a couple of years now. I even manage to grow strawberrys in July in Texas but with all the heat and the moisture I also grow huge bug populations that I really prefer to use a organic product to curb their population. I prefer my own vegestables to store bought or even the Farmer’s Market so that I do know for a fact that they are grown organicily and that no chemical pestisides are leaving a residue due to my compermised inmune system. I truly would like to test your products and see if they could curb the population of bugs that try to get to my vegestables before I do. I as battling the squirrel that I nicknamed” Rockie and Bullwinkle” due to them eating up all my lettuce as soon as I get it to sprout. Of course my trusted friend, a Border Collie named Scotty just lays in the shade and ignored the squirrels. Got any help for Rockie and Bullwinkle?

    Sincerely,

    Anne Cooper

  14. By Lea on Jul 10, 2009

    To my horror I found a couple of cucumber beetles inside my zucchini squash blossoms yesterday! I picked them out, but this won’t be possible on a daily basis. I would love to try an eco-friendly product to keep my organic garden organic.

  15. By Diane W on Jul 10, 2009

    These little *&%$!!’s ruined my whole crop of cukes 2 years ago. Last year I did not plant any. This year I have most plants in the greenhouse but I also planted 7 cuke plants outside in a raised bed. Of course I am out there 2-4 times a day checking, checking, seems I’m always checking.
    I would love to have a spray ready, cause I know they’re coming. I just know they are waiting for the day I let my guard down….
    And those squash bugs…don’t even get me started.

  16. By Carolyn on Jul 10, 2009

    This is our first year planting a garden at our new home. I noticed a volunteer watermelon plant had sprouted last December (weird for southwest Texas), and I protected it from freezes, and now the terrible drought we’re experiencing. It’s been growing just fine, has one nice melon forming, and had several others trying. Then the leaves near the base of the plant started wilting. The runners still look vibrant, and it’s still blooming. Haven’t seen any cucumber beetles, but saw something that looked like aphids. Suggestions?

  17. By Linda on Jul 10, 2009

    This is my second year trying to grow cucumbers. I am getting totally discouraged because something keeps eating the leaves.

  18. By Steve on Jul 11, 2009

    Sign me up PLEASE nothing seems to be working
    in the garden or yard here in South Carolina.

  19. By Jacqueline Benkert on Jul 11, 2009

    I was just out at my garden today. I haven’t seen any cucumber beetles, but my zucchini is infested with squash bugs. I did notice that some of my cucumber plants are turning yellow. Maybe I didn’t look closely enough, since I was so focused on the squash bugs. I’m always looking for safe and effective products to use in my garden–I strive for organic first, but have used inorganic but eco-friendly products, too.

  20. By mary Kwakenat on Jul 11, 2009

    I want them GONE. Last year I noticed a few tell tale (now) spots- this year almost all my coreopsis are toast. The woodland geranium are sufferring, my horseradish look awful, poppies are being hit, the mint is destroyed. Basically I have a garden of toast. So I have at least 2 years of infestation, since I noticed the spots last year. They don’t care for hosta or orange trumpet vine.

    I long to stay away from “bad” chems- so your site is a boon.

    2 years ago I had a pumpkin that vined the whole backyard…crazy fecund growth. Perhaps they took it as an invitation?

    I grow few veggies, mostly perrenials and garden with a hands off approach. This is the first year in 10 that I have watered regularly (hate to pay for what comes from above)- now I feel a great gardeners urge to kill welling up.

    I mulch with leaves- is that an invite? what if I pre rot them? I also spread tons of free wood mulch around as I hate to mow and keep dogs.

    These bugs suck! oh scientist out there- do tell – what purpose do they serve?

    I want them gone!

  21. By Rob Davis on Jul 12, 2009

    For some reason our cucumber seeds didn’t germinate this year. So I bought some plants to get a jump on the season. They started off well but it looks like the wilt has hit them. We only have two plants left. We have used rotenone some but evidently not enough or perhaps not early enough. We have had several zucchini plants die as well. There’s got to be a way to conquer this and harvest a good crop of cucumbers.

  22. By Nirya Marzigliano on Jul 13, 2009

    This is my first year growing veggies and stuff. So far my tomatoes, basil and mint are doing great. However, the zucchini looks terrible, something ate all my dill in two nights, and the leaves of my cukes are being eaten away too! I’d love to try your product.

  23. By chrystal on Jul 13, 2009

    I just can not seem to get rid of this little pest. I hate to put chemicals out on anything due to the animals and my children. Can this help with big black beetle also? They seem to be taking over also. HELP

  24. By Catherine Hampton on Jul 14, 2009

    HELP, we now have roaches and not the big texas roaches but the little annoying german roaches that make one feel like they keep a dirty house. I have not ever had roaches in my own home. now a year later in a new apartment they are around the dishwasher in the bathroom and in the kitchen YUCK. HELP I really need something eco-friendly for my dog and family! But will work. Let me be a tester please.

  25. By amy on Jul 15, 2009

    The cucumber beetles are kicking my butt.
    At this point they are on everything.
    My garden is about 50′ x 80′ and I can’t keep up with them.
    They are living in my cukes, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, lettuces, chards, everything…..I need help please.
    We have tried many other organic all natural sprays such as soaps and oils etc…..nothing works.
    I’m so very tired of squishing them one by one.

  26. By Ted Harris on Jul 15, 2009

    I had to quit raising melons because the spotted cucumber beetle was spreading bacterial wilt disease! The melons would be about a couple of weeks away from maturing & just wilt & die! Ted

  27. By Jill Hall on Jul 16, 2009

    I’m willing to try a spray for the striped kind of cucumber beetles, currently partying in my zucchini blossoms.

  28. By J. Price on Jul 16, 2009

    A friend of mine who recently came to America from China had never seen this type of bug and she thought they were infant Ladybugs. I am sending her your information because she sent me pictures of her cucumber plants and the beetles. They match exactly. Since she wasn’t from this country originally she didn’t know what they were and wanted a safe organic way to get rid of them.

  29. By Patti Simmons on Jul 16, 2009

    Oh Man, I’m a new organic gardener and between the japanese beetle, cucumber beetles and boxelder bugs…..
    I also have children, pets and small critters I don’t want to hurt so I’m up for anything that’ll do the job without doing a job on everything else.

  30. By Beth on Jul 17, 2009

    This is my first year planting a bigger garden and those beetles are taking over my cukes. Help!!! Willing to try EcoSMART!
    Thanks!

  31. By Cheryl Hutchinson on Jul 17, 2009

    This is my first year attempting a garden. Between the slugs and now, I just discovered the striped cucumber beetle on my finally established plants that are just now flowering….I would love to be a tester of your ecosmart product.

  32. By Brandi Talmage on Jul 18, 2009

    I have some kind of woody looking bug/beetle on my squash plants Im not sure what it is. However, the leaves on my pumpkins do look like the bacteria wilt above. I thought I might be dealing with spider mites but have not seen any even after flipping the leaf with white paper under it. I need something. Also having a huge issue with ear wigs. Is there anything natural to deal with them. They are very hard to kill. Much like cockroaches, I hate them! Please Help

  33. By fiona on Jul 19, 2009

    I just lost two muskmelon plants to bacterial wilt disease, after finding several striped cucumber beetles on them. Now I’ve just come in from the garden after finding four striped and one spotted cucumber beetles on my cucumber plants, and I just noticed that several of the leaves are starting to wilt. I’ve been handpicking them as soon as I see them, but it’s not working. I need a solution! I don’t want to lose my entire cucumber crop, but I’m afraid that I will!

  34. By Terrence Jenkins on Jul 20, 2009

    I had about 10 cucumber plants and they were growing very well and producing. Now half the leaves are either gone or wilted very badly. can I just cut the bad stems off or do I have to pull the whole plant?

    Jenks

  35. By Stefanie Schmidt on Jul 21, 2009

    Your products are a great way to save garden plants, without hurting the planet.

  36. By Marian on Jul 22, 2009

    Thank you for the inforation I will try your suggestions and product. This is the third year I have had this problem.

  37. By patricia lafranchi on Jul 22, 2009

    I have bugs eating my cucumbers. What can I do to get rid of them?

  38. By Leigh on Jul 22, 2009

    The squash bugs and cucumber beetles are killing my cukes in a fast and furious way. I’ll take all the organic help I can get! Sign me up to be a product tester, please.

  39. By Sheila Stratford on Jul 23, 2009

    Need American Cockroach, Silverfish, and 10 Line June Beetle aids..
    Using Borax and having professional treatments outdoors at this point. Having terminix come Saturday for a full evaulation and regular maintainance.

  40. By Becky on Jul 25, 2009

    The squash bugs are winning! I have been picking off bugs all summer, I’ve lost two squash plants and now my cucumbers leaves are wilting and turning brown. I have two dogs, and I am worried about what they might get into. I would love to test this product!

  41. By dale on Jul 27, 2009

    I planted my muskmellow plants late this season and they are just begining to blossom.

    Every year I try to get rid of the beetle and last year I tried aluminum foil squares around the base of the plant and I did see less beetles but some still managed to get to the plants and all the plants died.

    I sure would like to try your product and maybe for the first year in a long time I might actually have some muskmellons.

  42. By jackie troup on Jul 28, 2009

    i would be interested in testing your products. i have cucumber beetles and squash bugs in my garden. also some kind of blight affecting my 20 tomato plants. do you have anything to help with wilt or blight?

  43. By Brendan Hughes on Jul 29, 2009

    Second year planting veggies. First year planting cukes. Everything was growing great until I started noticing yellow spots on the cuke leaves. From first noticing it has been a week and the leaves are pretty much dried up on two plants. Started picking them off but it seems like a lost cause. Would definately be willing to test your EcoSmart product before I lose all my plants.

  44. By Cathy Yeakel on Jul 31, 2009

    This is our first year having a garden and it was producing a decent amount of zuchinni and squash, then a few weeks ago we noticed the leaves were turning yellow on the squash plants and some of the cucumber plants. My husband thought we may have watered them too much. Then we both noticed some beetles flying around the kitchen, where we keep our fresh picked produce. We actually found the picture of the beetles tonight on your website, and then it all made sense! we have both the striped and spotted cucumber beetles and even though they are quite pretty, we would like it if they stopped killing our garden! We would love to try an eco-friendly product. Do you know the best way to get the bugs out of the kitchen?

  45. By kristen lazuka on Aug 3, 2009

    Just went out to check on the first baby cucumber in my garden. There were 3 tiny black and yellow stripped beetles on the new cuke! Then I saw more on the flowers of that plant and some on my zuchinni UGH! I squashed them if I could catch them but more arrived soon after. I’d love to try your product as I dont want to put harsh chemicals on anything I plkan to feed my family! Thanks

  46. By Bruce Parkhurst on Aug 4, 2009

    I’ve been hand picking (and squishing) the striped cucumber beetles all summer. It is possible to keep ahead of the curve, but just barely. I also use a concoction I call simply “peppercide” made from my abundant crop of cayenne peppers last year. It’s a recipe that was listed as a non-chemical weapon for battling garden pests.

    The peppercide does not kill the bettles but I nonethless find it effective – when I spray it, the bettles seem momentarily incapacitated and don’t fly away as usual. They drop to the soil and I squish them before they can dig down.

  47. By Dawn Brenengen on Aug 10, 2009

    I think this is whats killing my cucmber plants. I’m a newbie at gardening, but I would love to try your product!

  48. By bubs on Aug 24, 2009

    It is August and they just appeared for the first time- My cuckes are in trouble! Has anyone had luck with this product?

  49. By Lisa Baker on Aug 29, 2009

    I would love to try your organic products as I have my first home garden this year and I think the cucumber beetles have finally made it to my plant here at the end of August. Please send help!

  50. By Dawn on Sep 19, 2009

    Help! My whole cucumber crop is wilting away. I’d love to try this!

49 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers! (details)