Diabrotica undecimpunctata
Pest description and damage The adult western spotted cucumber beetle is yellowish green, 0.25 inch in length, and has eleven black spots on its wing covers. The adult beetles eat small holes in the leaves. Mature larvae are white, except for the head and last abdominal segment, which are brown giving the appearance that larvae have two "heads." The larvae are about 0.63 inch long. Larvae feed on roots and bore into the base of stems, killing small plants and reducing root mass in mature plants so plants may be stunted.
Biology and life history Cucumber beetles overwinter as fertilized females and are active beginning in early spring. Adults lay eggs at the base of plants. Eggs hatch in seven to ten days, and larvae feed in roots for about three weeks before pupating in the soil. Adults emerge two weeks later and feed on pollen, foliage, flowers, and pods. There are two generations per year.
Management-cultural control
In most years, beetle populations diminish after egg laying and before the emergence of the summer population. Planting is delayed until after the beetles have dispersed and deposited most of their eggs. Individual beetles are picked off.
Management-biological control
Entomopathogenic nematodes directed towards the larvae are effective when soil temperatures are warmer than 53°F.
Management-chemical control
See Table 2 in:
Chemical Control of Landscape Pests
For more information
Natwick E.T. et al. 2009. Cucurbits: cucumber beetles (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r116300511.html).