Cucumber Beetles

This garden pest, the Spotted Cucumber Beetle, has been seen at Westbury Community Garden beginning in May. We also may see the smaller Striped Cucumber Beetle and Green Banded Cucumber Beetle.

All three of these have small black heads. They are evasive and hard to catch/kill, as they fly off quickly.

Their eggs are yellow, oval and laid at the base of plants.

The larvae are beige with a brown head and brown spot on the last segment. They eat plant roots & stems, especially cucumbers, cantaloupe & corn.

The adults chew ragged holes in plant leaves, flowers & fruits. You will find them in beans, squash, eggplant, tomatoes and potatoes as well.

The natural predators of cucumber beetles are Tachinid flies, soldier beetles, assassin bugs and toads.