The attack of the striped cucumber beetle

They are at it again. This is about the fourth year in a row that these voracious little beetles have come to feast on the cucumber, squash and melon plants I've planted. I never had them until about five years ago when they suddenly appeared. Usually I would have a few spotted cucumber beetles who were polite and mild mannered and ate only a little and the plants grew big and healthy anyway. The striped beetle kills the small seedlings and awaits the next planting with the same unsated appetite.

It's really a discouraging problem. With most pests or plant diseases, I can just feed the plants and keep them weeded, and they grow through whatever attacked them, but the striped cucumber beetle is an exception. When I went to check on the newly planted lemon cucumber seedlings, the plant and the soil surrounding it, were swarming with the hungry mob. This is the result of their work.

In desperation, I got out an old spray bottle of Neem and really soaked the soil and the plant and sprayed more lightly the seedlings still in pots that I had ready to plant in the garden. I was amazed! The beetles disappeared! I went out today to check again to make sure they hadn't just hid for a while and then would return, but they are still gone. So I have confidence enough to plant the rest of the squash and melons now that I know they can be saved from the striped menace.

At Green Light Neem II - 24 oz Spray #07824

Read More in: Remedies | Worms, Bugs & Gross Things

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