Cucumber Beetle ControlWhen undertaking cucumber beetle control,we want to look closer at alternative methods to using pesticides . There’s little controversy over the bare hands method. Bare is bare. People who rely on their garden gloves, however, can be pretty vocal about naming their favorites. There are natural ways to a pest-free garden where the gardener can take safe precautions to eliminate harmful pests without destroying beneficial insects in the process. This Cucumber Beetle Control guide is intended to help explore the gardening resources at hand in maintaining the balance of nature. Gardening with nature is not a new practice. In fact, before insecticides were invented, it was the only way to garden. Nature will if left alone provide her own controls. However, to give Mother Nature a helping hand, there are methods to garden naturally using effective and efficient measures in cucumber beetle control. Despite their name, cucumber beetles are not exclusively pests of cucumbers. They are general plant feeders as adults and also can transmit virus and bacterial diseases. Using natural methods for controlling an unwanted insect population includes relying heavily on companion planting and encouraging natural predators such as birds and other insects. Today's gardener faces such dilemmas as rising food costs on one hand and a decline in available gardening areas on the other. To strike a healthy balance in providing for your family as well as protecting the land for future generations makes it important to garden organically whenever possible. The cucumber beetle is a chewing insect. They are fast feeders equipped with powerful mandibles that allow them to rip and tear edges of leaves, make holes, or skeleton foliage. Insects are a highly trained, well ordered society. Using chemical insecticides kills off the bad insects along with the good ones. Natural cucumber beetle control is using predators, to curb the population of insect pests. Natural Predators There are many helpers in your garden such as insects, birds, frogs, lizards, and spiders. It pays to know which are on your side! Birds are friends of the garden. Although they eat fruit and berries, some eat their weight in bugs several times a day. Invite birds into your garden as cucumber beetle control by planting suitable plants like holly and wild grape. Insects are no mistake; they are part of a master plan and serve a purpose in the grand scheme of nature. The most valuable of all bugs are predator insects that feed on other insects. Examples of insect predators are ladybugs, lacewings, praying mantid, ichneumon, parasitic wasps, and assassin bugs. Pest Controls Non-chemical control for cucumber beetle also includes hand-picking, entrapment, and mechanical barriers. The natural insecticides "Pyrethrin' and ‘Rotenone' are recommended controls against beetles. The cucumber beetle is a common garden pest and leaves behind signs of damage of chewed holes in foliage, stems, flowers, and fruit.For cucumber beetle control: Beetles may cluster on a plant or make several stops while feeding. Some individual pests can be tolerated but large populations can destroy a crop. One of the easiest control methods is handpicking the insects into a jar of alcohol, which destroys the pests. Gardening Practices Mulching heavily and using floating row covers are effective deterrents for cucumber beetles. Companion planting to repel insects is also used as a deterrent. It is entirely possible to have a beautiful garden without resorting to devastating pest controls. Although some control by chemicals for commercial crops may be deemed necessary, it is rarely needed in the home garden. The best advice is to treat these stripped and spotted beetles early and often. Go to Identifying-Garden-Pests from Cucumber Beetle Control |
