Cucumber beetle
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Cucumber beetle is a common name given to members of two genera of
Chrysomelidae.[1] The adults can be found on cucurbits such as cucumbers and a variety of other plants. Many are notorious pests of agricultural crops. The larvae
of several cucumber beetles are known as corn rootworms.
Some well-known pests include the
striped cucumber beetle (A. vittatum), and the western striped cucumber beetle
(A. trivittatum).
The insects live about eight weeks, during which time both larva and adult feed on plants. Adults will attack the tender young growth of stems and leaves, and the buds and petals on mature specimens. They also carry and spread the
Erwinia tracheiphila and the cucumber mosaic virus
. Eggs are laid in clusters on the undersides of host leaves and hatch into larvae 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) long. The larvae often tunnel into the soil to attack roots.
Cucumber beetles can overwinter in crop fields or in compost or trash piles. Eradication efforts may include manual removal, clearing cultivated areas of litter, debris, and infested plants, and application of pyrethrin-containing insecticides such as cyfluthrin or non-systemic organophosphate insecticides such as malathion.
References
- ^ "Cucumber Beetles". North Carolina State University. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
External links
Wikispecies has information related to Diabrotica.
Wikispecies has information related to Acalymma.
- Cucumber Beetles. Virginia Cooperative Extension Office.
- Vegetable Diseases. Cass County Extension Office.
- Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures website.