Identify bug(s) and give me the method for annihilation please

[SuperChemicalGirl]

I routinely have bug and pest problems, but they're usually things I can identify like japanese beetles, slugs, deer, groundhogs... Meet the newest thing to show up at the buffet: this nasty little yellow and black striped bug. It's all over my curcurbits. I squashed 40+ of them today on just one hill of hubbard squash. When they squish they're a most undelightful shade of yellow green (ecto-cooler) inside.

I'm hoping that someone here has seen these nasty little things before and knows how to exterminate them. I've tried sprinkling DE everywhere but it's rained so much it's not working.

Also... are these things the same evil creature that's cutting the leaves off my pepper plants? I haven't been able to see anything on those plants, but every single day they're pruned back for me. GAAHH!

 

[henrietta23]

Cucmber beetle? I'm trying to identify something on my cukes but they're spotted. I've seen lots of pics tonight of something striped like that that's identified as cucumber beetle.

 

[SuperChemicalGirl]

Yup I'd say so, thanks!! Apparently there's a spotted variety of the same thing.

https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/cucumberbeetle.html

I just purchased some traps at Burpee (http://www.burpee.com/gardening-supplies/pest-control/cucumber-beetle-trap-prod001803.html) which hopefully will work for me. I also went and sprayed some permethrin long acting horse spray (when a girl's desperate...) around the outside of the plastic tub the hubbard squash are planted in. I might also try some Sevin but we've had so much rain it's pointless.

PS Guess that's not what's eating my peppers then. Darn.

 

[lesa]

I'm going to guess cutworms on the peppers... leaves cut off and laying there. Don't bother to use Sevin on the cucumber beetles. You will never kill them all. Try to hand pick- early morning and late evening is when they are easiest to squish. The problem with them, is that carry a disease that will cause your cukes to just die. Hopefully, you will get enough of them to avoid that.

 

[4grandbabies]

They look like cucumber beetles to me, they are starting to show us here also. I go out every day with a hose end sprayer, which has mild liquid soap, and a little pyola in it. I think its helping, but I may be just hoping its helping...

 

[SuperChemicalGirl]

Thanks for all the advice. I had cutworms in my peppers originally but they cut the stems off. I replanted with seedlings I bought that had thicker stems. I didn't know they climbed up the plant and cut the leaves off!! What can I do to kill them? And what's also weird is that my peppers that I planted in containers are having the same issue - fresh dirt, too. So I had assumed it was an aerial assault.

 

[SuperChemicalGirl]

For those of you with cucumber beetle problems, I found an interesting method of anihilation...

I bought these:

Set them up:

And within 5 minutes:

I'll keep you posted on how they do later, too.

 

[lesa]

I think they really are the best thing, since the bugs are attracted to yellow. I think I might get them out, early in the season and see if I can stop the spread of those buggers!

 

[Wacky-Gardner]

Lures are great but keep in mind they use a pheromone lure and can bring not only the ones in your yard but from miles around making a bigger problem. If you see a surge in numbers take down the lure and replace it with this:

Take a plastic dish or shallow cup spray paint it bright yellow. Coat the Plate with tanglefoot. The yellow attracts the bug thinking it's a flower only to be captured by the sticky tanglefoot. Check daily and remove any bugs.

This will capture many bugs attracted to flowers.

Like the previous post said the striped and spotted cucumber beetle carries disease that will affect not only cucumbers but pumpkins as well.

Good luck!

 

[Merelyatheory]

Ugh, I hate those guys. I find them in everything but the are pretty predictable so I kill them by hand. I hate that little "can't catch me" jump they do. I can kill upwards of thirty or forty just on my big pumpkin a day. I have read that floating row covers can discourage them. Let the pollinates in during the morning hours and then cover. They let light, air and water in but keep the bugs out. It might be something to look into.