Re: cuke beetles

Good memory Russ.  I am in a far west suburb on Chicago.  It sounds like I can 
use the Bayer during the day since it is not actually sprayed on the plant.  
What is a fogger or piston sprayer?  After I posted, I thought more about the 
zucchini.  I first noticed the beetles around them, but I do have a pumpkin 
plant close to them.  I think that explains the holes in that pumpkin plant 
leaves.  I was blaming it on the Japanese Beetles.  I also thought  removing the 
zucchini plant after I posted.  If they are indeed hanging around them, then 
perhaps I should leave them in place to lure the beetles.

Debbie  





________________________________
From: Russ Stokes <rstokes@wi.rr.com>
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Sent: Sun, July 25, 2010 11:51:17 PM
Subject: 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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