And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles

1airdoc 5/26/2012, 5:42 pm

Saw my first Japanese beetles today - fortunately on the crepe myrtles across the yard from the garden, and none in the garden today. I used milky spore this spring in a huge zone around the garden, so I'm hoping that the JB's will be diminished. I am also following Tom's advice and waiting to plant my pole beans until later.

I also saw the first cucumber beetles of the season. The cukes look undamaged at this point (the beetles were on the zucchini and squash), and I redosed everything with Spinosad for good measure.

Last year the cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, and squash vine borers brought me great disappointment just as things were beginning to produce, so I'm trying to be more proactive this year.

dianamarie03 5/26/2012, 6:27 pm

Uh, I also get the cucumber beetles. I hate those pesky bugs. I'm trying to squish as I see them this year and use neem, hopefully that works as I'm trying to stay organic.

rjeverett 5/26/2012, 9:05 pm

Yep, same here. Been hunting down the cucumber beetles as I see them, usually in the early morning and evenings, and trying to do hand squish. All I have right now though is BT, will this not really do anything to them though? Should I get some Spinosad for the beetles and borers?

1airdoc 5/26/2012, 10:04 pm

I've read that Spinasad is good for both bugs (as well as others) and that it is a very safe organic compound. You should spray it in the evenings to avoid harming bees, I believe.

**camprn** 5/27/2012, 7:36 am

Spinosad from Wikipedia <~~~click

You may also check the insecticide and pesticide Stickies for more information and alternatives.

Japanese Beetle control info:
Organic Gardening
Other ideas

Organic pest control options from Cornell.

Squash bug and Squash vine borer organic control from Michigan U.

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And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles

And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles

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Re: And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles

Re: And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles

Re: And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles

Re: And so it begins...Japanese beetles and cucumber beetles


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