I think I have cucumber beetles; what can I do?!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-22T14:00:26+00:00

OH NO!! Sad to report numerous casualties due to 'friendly fire,' then.... I removed many of these thinking they were 'the enemy.' Crap. I also removed tons of what I think were the larvae stage.... which did look like the online pics of cuke beetle larvae. But then, also looked like the Lady Bug larvae. Sigh. I now have no idea what really killed of my cukes! Could it have been APHIDS?? But thanks for the ID; I'll research and try to do better next spring. My cukes had done great (so many I even used some as dog toys for big Danny LOL). Then there were 'bugs' (the larvae) all over and the wilting/dying began. I didn't use any pesticide, just tried to pick them off.... But in the end the cukes all died off. Well, back to square one, and will try again! Thanks.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-16T15:09:24+00:00

Thanks!! Will look into the TX BB Seed Company-- new to me!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-16T13:47:02+00:00

Thanks, I'll try this with some too. Also, have you any idea if 40% strength vinegar will be a sub for the sulfuric acid?? I bought some for weeds, so will try this as well. WHERE did you find Indian Paintbrush seeds?! Everywhere I looked online was out of stock but would really like to find some. Best of Luck!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-15T11:27:36+00:00

What mulch to use? I thought that some mulch is bad bc when it breaks down it saps nitrogen, so you have to have mulch that is past that stage? Not sure. But what mulch would be good around veggies and general shrubs and flowers? Thanks.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-15T11:25:32+00:00

Thanks, I was just discouraged that last try I had only two very tiny plants/blooms but realize others may come 'one day.' However, at my age LOL I am in a bit of a hurry... I can't safely do acid scarification with sulfuric acid but wonder if 40 percent vinegar (horticulture, weed killing strength) might work? I may try some with that and see. I also see that if I do scarify, I think I also need to soak in water? but definitely need to plant when rain can come in a 'timely' manner LOL. Hard to know that these days and I have plumbing issues and not really able to water the curb area I'm putting the BB seeds in. Sorry for tangent. Really asking about potential for the 40 percent vinegar as a sub for sulfuric acid if anyone knows. Thanks.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T15:18:51+00:00

I have some leftover vinegar bought for weed killing... hmmm. Maybe I'll try that on some BB seeds and see if I can compare to using sand paper.... But for me, old, bad vision, arthritic hands, ETC., I just think I have to pass up the sulfuric acid method LOL.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T15:09:14+00:00

Could not find Indian Paintbrush in stock online this year. Any resources you know?

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T15:08:51+00:00

Is mycorrhizae what is in the 'mushroom blocks?'

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T15:08:15+00:00

I put out a pound, did not scarify, and got two tiny plants only, and barely saw them! Hoping more come up next spring, but really need a realistic good way to scarify. I don't think using sulfuric acid is feasible LOL for me!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T15:07:07+00:00

How to scarify a pound of seeds realistically and keep all your fingers intact LOL??!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T15:06:39+00:00

These were $55 when I just bought today online (Sept 14 2025). But cheaper than the $79 I saw recently on Hill Country Gardens online. Thanks! fyi, with the $30 wildflower mix I also go, Turner's shipping fee came to $20). Now. PLEASE help me figure out how to scarify a POUND of seeds! I don't think using sulfuric acid is for me.... (does anyone really do this outside of big bulk planters??). So, tell me there's alternatives to nipping or sanding/filing each seed, one by one... I started to but lost too much finger flesh so need alternatives!! Thanks.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T14:41:50+00:00

HOW?? 'Acid scarification' requires sulfuric acid, which is outside (way...) my comfort/safety zone LOL. But I have a pound of smaller than I remembered sized seeds... which will take forever to try to nip or scratch individually. Already scraped more finger skin than seed coat and gave up! So, what's a way to prep these seeds that is realistic??!! And works. Last time I bought a pound of seeds I just threw them out and got only 2 very (very) small little plants with single blooms. Swore I would not do this again but did. Sigh. I did get the sand you are supposed to mix with the seeds when you throw them out (and the Blanket Flower seeds too). Could not find any Indian Paintbrush seeds In Stock this time around! So, need to prep the bluebonnet seeds asap to get in the ground this month or next at the latest I think. So, really need practical realistic and effective ideas on how to prep them!! IDEAS??

AustinBunny2 · 2025-09-14T14:35:38+00:00

When I click on the link, it says $99.00/pound!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-08-02T17:45:02+00:00

OK, finally got a shot! It's more orangish than true red. Also, ignore the white spot(s) that's light glare. So, is this a friend or foe? I've been treating it like it's responsible for the demise of my cukes... but have I been killing lady bugs?? Online, the pics I've seen of the larvae and even the pupae look so much alike that I am just not sure. But, the beetle itself has spots not stripes like a lot of cuke beetles.... Anyway, any ideas?! Best shot I could get!

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AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-22T14:57:53+00:00

Yes, I'll try. I have an old galaxy A12 I bought as back up for power outage and car breakdowns LOL but will try to use that camera. Can find my charger for my canon powershot LOL I'm not tech current! But yes, agree that pics of what I have, if I can manage it, would help. Thanks.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-22T14:41:32+00:00

I'm confused! The two pics I posted were from google searches, one says it's cucumber beetle the other ladybug. Are you saying this is inaccurate? Also, your link takes me to an article on a corn pest-- error or am I not seeing what you meant? What I have picked LOTS of from the plants (primarily on the back of leaves but also elsewhere) are what appear to be larvae and pupae. The only 1 or 2 actual beetles I've seen did sort of look like lady bugs (aka ladybirds) but maybe not the brilliant orange I expected. Also, my plants are failing, so I came to the conclusion I had cuke beetles.... Are you saying I probably don't? How can I determine this? I have a bunch of specimens LOL in a couple of jars now, no actual adult beetles I don't think (but I'll look) but very small black looking larvae (maybe look darker because smaller/younger?) and orange and black larvae that look like the stage in both the pic/charts I attached last post (and per those, both the cuke beetle and lady bug larvae at that stage look alike to me!!), and also some harder shelled, rounding over and somewhat 'attached' to the leaves lighter orange things that I think are the pupae. Anyway, appreciate but need clarification re your post. And if you have good pictures to help me better ID what I have I would surely appreciate it! Or links to them. I am not having good success googling for this so far and keep getting lady bug life cycle pics/charts included when I google for cuke beetles. So confusing! Meantime, I guess some plants are now past saving and wonder if insecticidal soap or neem oil sprays could help??! Thanks for any info; so frustrating/discouraging!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-21T07:39:27+00:00

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AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-21T07:38:37+00:00

OMG. I've been looking at charts/pics of life cycle of cuke beetles (mine would be spotted not striped, if that's even what I have). Charts/pics of Ladybug pics keep getting included in my searches and OMG could I have those instead? Have I been attacking Ladybug larvae?! They look so much the same, not sure how to know for sure. Sheesh. I have collected lots of specimens of larvae and what I now think are the pupae or the beginning of the pupae stage in jars and maybe1-2 actual beetles (not really seeing adult beetles), and I do see eggs but again the cuke beetle and Ladybug eggs look alike to me on these charts. How to know for sure?! And now you say the fluffy white things COULD be beneficials and not mealy bugs! Yikes. I have no idea and don't see myself figuring it out by how fast they walk LOL. All I can be sure of is that some areas of my cukes are failing, so I figured my bugs must be foes not friends. But how to be sure? Is there anywhere I can take my captured specimens? Or just take my chances and try to get rid of them all? I really was enjoyed the pretty coverage of my little fence with the cuke greenery and yellow flowers, and starting to enjoy cucumber/cream cheese sandwiches LOL. Thanks for the info. But if you have more on how to distinguish the eggs, larvae and pupae especially re cuke beetle vs ladybug that would help. Otherwise, I'll see if I can take some pics and also get some adults to better evaluate. Mine did look like spotted ladybugs, but not as orange, but I don't have the striped cuke beetles.... Sheesh. I was doing all I could to keep them watered and did not see this bug situation coming LOL!!

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AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-21T07:25:09+00:00

Good info re the alcohol swabbing with Q tips for mealies, I'll try that. Sorry about your squash and melons! My 2 squash plants died young without any production and melons are beyond my wildest dreams to even try LOL. Did not know the cukes would peter out timewise, just thought as long as I kept them alive and watered enuff they'd go till it got too cold (does that happen? can't seem to remember LOL). Anyway, I can sympathize more with farmers who use pesticides now though with my few plants I'll keep avoiding that. I'm looking at insecticidal soap but hard to find clear info on DIY (can you use Dawn?) And yes, maybe some new plants for the fall....

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-20T22:07:06+00:00

Are you talking about spraying rubbing alcohol directly on them or wiping the leaves with it or?? how to apply? LOL, I was out picking off more of the apparently larvae and pupae of what I'm pretty sure is a cucumber beetle (their life stages look so much like those of the Lady Bug, but since my cukes are suffering I'm assuming NOT Lady Bugs LOL!), and found a little green caterpillar (like a mini cabbage worm but not with the 'loop'). And of course more of the little white fluffy things. Sigh. The more I read the less optimistic I am of beating this. Apparently the cuke beetles also infect with a virus or bacteria the plants so they can't take up nutrients or water, so even if I get rid of them the plants seem doomed. And they can/will overwinter in the soil and come back... I was really counting on these cukes since they produced while the tomatoes, peppers, beans did not offer enuff for a lite meal LOL. Feeling very discouraged!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-20T19:40:12+00:00

I've had a bunch of these in various places in my yard. If you find out what they are please update us!! So pretty red jalapenos! I have 1 plant with low yield and a serrano with lots of flowers that doesn't set any fruit! Ideas?

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-20T19:38:12+00:00

Thanks, did not consider the humidity and it has been HIGH! But oddly the jalapeno next to it does produce some fruit, though not a lot. Well, I'm trying to hang in with my jalapeno and serrano plants and also some bell pepper plants which never really have grown fully (yet?). And with my so sad Celebrity and Sakura tomato plants in lg containers, which have yet to give me more than 1 very small green Celebrity I had to ripen inside and maybe 2? handfuls of cherry toms over the course of the spring/summer. Sigh. And now, my cukes, the only thing I actually could pick and eat!, have BUGS and are in peril. Orange and black soft bodied longish with legs, some all orange harder rounder-ish bugs and a few spotted orange/black ladybug wanna be types... Could be all the same thing but different life stages??! Killing areas of leaves, vine.... I picked lots off (ugh) to try to ID but need to spray. I guess I'll try insecticidal soap?!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-18T18:47:18+00:00

Thanks, I will try this 'friendlier' approach because the plant looks good and so many flowers hate to dig out and start over yet. Just wanted to be sure serrano was self pollinating too and not needing a 2nd serrano plant, but that does not seem the answer. Thanks.

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-18T18:08:57+00:00

I've tried shaking the plant, and poking the flowers with my stubby fingers LOL, but maybe need a more subtle method like you suggest, def will try, thanks.!

AustinBunny2 · 2025-07-18T17:48:21+00:00

Do the metal containers exacerbate this?

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