Re: cuke beetles

The product from Bayer (Imidacloprid - Merit) contains a systemic insecticide, therefore by adding it to a bucket of water and watering the base of the plant, the plant takes up the water/insecticide quickly. My guess within 3-4 hours. I would do a follow-up every 10-14 days there after.
The second approach is spraying the plant with Triazicide in order to get coverage both on top of the leaves and underneath. Yes, you are quite right that spraying under the leaves is a chore unless you have a fogger or a good piston or diaphragm sprayer. Not knowing what you have in the way of a sprayer, I would suggest that you make the best of what you have and spray the best you can. I am fairly certain that using the systemic product will take out most of your cuke beetle problem. My experience is that cuke beetles don't normally go after zucchini, but because they are infested I would spray the heck out of them and wait for the beetles to die out before pulling the plants and discarding them. Since the beetles seem to have a preference for your Zucchini, you may want to consider leaving them in as "indicator" plants. When they have beetles, your pumpkins will probably have them as well. I know that some growers sow Blue Hubbard squash for that very reason. Remember, when you use chemicals, fruits and vegetables are not safe to eat for whatever the period the chemical label instructs.
I don't have much luck using Sevin. It's been around a long time and I think insects have gained resistance to it.
I hope this helps. Where are you growing? I think I remember a post that you are in Northern Illinois.
Russ Stokes 
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