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Ontario

Like everyone else in the East, I've been suffering through a cool damp spring so far. We finally got some warm dry weather this past week-end so I decided to take the green houses of the pumpkins last Saturday as the pumpkins were beginning to get a little cramped and it is warm enough for them to be out in the open. After the green houses were removed I decided to spray some insecticide for the first time. I use powdered Sevin in the green house for cut worm but since it was so cold I haven't seen a Cucumber Beetle yet (one of the few benefits of cool weather). Anyway I mixed up some liquid Sevin and sprayed all 5 plants at the same time with the same spray. The next morning I went to the patch and found the first pumpkin plant I came to just covered in dead Cucumber Beetles. I mean 5 or 6 dead beetles on every leaf. The next plant I checked didn't have a beetle on it, or the next, or the next. In fact there were no other dead beetles on any other plant. This begs the question....why? It doesn't make sense. Do certain plants attract more bugs than others? The plant in question is a little bit bigger than the others but I wouldn't think that would make a difference. I know that some pumpkin plants are more resistant to powdery mildew than others but I've never come across a plant attracting beetles before. Any theories? BTW this is new part of the patch so it's not likely they over wintered in that soil or area.

6/17/2003 1:31:07 PM

Western Pa.

My theory is that they'll be all over the place in a few days!

6/17/2003 2:26:49 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I think that they just dicovered that one plant first and didn't live to tell about it.

6/17/2003 2:32:15 PM

Mineral Virginia

Rain hasn't been slowing them down any at my place. You were lucky.

6/17/2003 3:04:19 PM

Montoursville, PA

I haven't seen one yet but I have stated my insecticide treatment based on reports I see here. Being a few days early may be better than a few days late.

6/17/2003 8:07:32 PM

porterville,california usa

new topless bartender.

6/18/2003 1:26:55 AM

Circleville ,OH.

Hey cowpie:

I had a problem close to yours. I saw a few cuc beetles on one of my plants and waited 1 day to spray(didnt want to spray in the rain). When spraying this plant I had @25 fly out while spraying. They also ate the crap out of this plant. My other 2 plants only had a few between them and minimal to no damage.

They had a pick between 3 plants and one plant was their favorite no doubt.So there is somthing to the fact that diff plants attract or repel insects.Too bad we dont understand this more, then maybe we could have an insect resistant A.G. plant!

P.S. insecticides killed all the ones that didnt drowned.

6/18/2003 4:09:59 PM

New Brunswick

Does anyone use Rotenone? I found a couple of cucumber beetles on one plant this a.m. and I killed them. I plastered them all with Deritox (Rotenone). I have never used sevin.

6/18/2003 6:41:12 PM

[email protected]

Pretend you're a sex deprived Cuke Beetle. Winter's over & it's time for breeding. Everyones favorite honey is waiting at the "her" table wearing the sweetest pheromone perfume ever. You take the table on the other side of the restaurant & drink alone? No way. That's called extinction fellas. When she says she's ready, it's party time in the patch. Now's not the time to be bashful boys!

Steve

6/18/2003 8:21:40 PM

North Ga

Dang Steve! You're making me want to be a Cuke Beetle.

6/18/2003 8:56:43 PM

Manchester, N.h.

I think my husband is one. LOL

6/18/2003 9:24:36 PM

Ontario

I found that cucumber beetles seem to really love a sick or weakened plant from previous experence.I guess it makes it more tender. This plant however is my best plant and is thriving. Maybe it was just an orgy on the 1236 thing. BYOB Bring your own bug.

6/18/2003 11:43:37 PM

churchville, ny

Cowpie-I do not think there is any question that some plants do attract cuke beetles more than others and then they spread to neighboring plants. I am not sure if it is a scent given off by the plant or what attracts them. This year was a perfect example where 1 of my 16 plants was covered and the rest had none. Once I hit it with sevin they di not return. Tom

6/21/2003 8:50:55 AM