I just checked my pumpkin plants (about one month old) and they had around 10-20 small black bugs on them. I shook the plant and more ran out from under it. I'm wondering what type of bugs these are, and how to stop them from growing in number. I noticed they have exoskeletons, and they're about an eighth of an inch in length, if that. Any thoughts?
Question about pumpkin pests
- Thread starter Scottson
- Start date
Picture for clarity, finger for size reference. 5x zoom.
Looks like flea beetles. They will eat holes in leaves that look like you shot it with birdshot. I use 1 tbsp Dawn Ultra per gallon of water for those. You have to spray them directly as it has no residual effect. There are other things you can use against those.
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Looks like you have two types of beetles. The one by your thumb looks like it has spots and is yellowish green. That is a cucumber beetle, a voracious bug. I can't tell about the other one. Adult beetles of any kind are difficult to kill by organic means. Spinosad, Neem Oil and soaps all kill them but to a limited degree. You have to spray the ground and both sides of the leaves liberally with these products. Whenever I have had an infestation of beetles I would spray first, let it dry and then liberally apply Diatomaceous Earth. The only thing wrong with DE is that if it gets wet or damp it doesn't work very well so you have to keep applying it.
I use the Soap but also Vegetable Oil and Peppermint Oil.
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