Western spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)
Western striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma trivittatum)
Pest description, crop damage and life history
See:
Common Pests of Vegetable Crops
Pest monitoring Specific treatment thresholds have not been established for this pest on spinach. Adults arefoliage feeders, and grubs chew on and tunnel through roots; scout accordingly. Late year infestations are insignificant. If damaging numbers are encountered during mid year, excessive foliage loss may reduce crop production. In Virginia, the following recommendations are made: to prevent cucumber beetle damage to seedlings, treat when one beetle per 10 row feet is found.
Management-cultural control
Commercial row crop covers provide good protection from cucumber beetles, provide late-frost protection, and help retain moisture. Sometimes, a crop planting can be delayed until after beetles disperse and deposit most of their eggs. Delaying planting until warmer weather also gives crops a greater chance of outgrowing beetle injury. Trap crops sometimes can be used to draw beetles away from the main crop. Trap-cropping is an unproven control method in Oregon.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- acetamiprid
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- imidacloprid
- kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- malathion
- permethrin
- pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- zeta-cypermethrin
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/A per season.
- bifenthrin/Avermectin (Athena) at 0.05 to 0.12 lb ai/A. PHI 40 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/A avermectin or 0.4 lb ai/A bifenthrin per year. Limit 2 treatments.
- bifenthrin (Brigade WSB) at 0.033 to 0.1 lb ai/A. PHI 40 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/A per season.
- bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.08 to 0.096 lb ai/A. PHI 40 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/A imidacloprid and 0.24 lb ai/A bifenthrin per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
- dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.13 lb ai/A foliar and 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/A soil. PHI 7 day foliar; 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/A foliar or 0.532 lb ai/A soil per season.
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/A per season.
Note: Carbaryl, diazinon, methomyl (Lannate), or permethrin applied to control other pests usually controls cucumber beetles.