Beetles, the good and the bad…
There are many types of beetles in the Austin area, many of them beneficial. The two most common groups of pest beetles are listed below, along with some helpful beetles.
Least toxic solutions for all beetles:
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Use floating row cover
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Remove dead plant materials and debris from garden
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Treat soil with beneficial nematodes
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Check for damage early and often during the growing season
Flea Beetle Pests
FLEA BEETLE
STRIPED FLEA BEETLE
Flea beetles attack:
many vegetables including cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant, potatoes and corn
And cause damage:
leaving a “shot gun” pattern feeding damage on leaves and potentially spreading diseases such as potato blight and bacterial wilt. Larvae feed underground on roots.
Try these solutions:
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Irrigate efficiently. Drought stressed plants are more susceptible to damage
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Companion plant with catnip, sage and mint to repel beetles
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Plant trap crops such as mustard
Cucumber Beetle Pests
SPOTTED CUCUMBER BEETLE
BANDED CUCUMBER BEETLE
STRIPED CUCUMBER BEETLE
Cucumber beetles attack:
all members of the squash and cucumber family
And cause damage:
leaving minimal feeding damage, but spread diseases such as bacterial wilt and squash mosaic virus that can kill plants.
Try these solutions:
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Choose disease resistant squash plants such as Cougar,Destiny III,Liberator III, Sunglo and Sunray
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Use trellises to get plants off the ground and mulch heavily around plants
Helpful Beetles
These beetles are beneficial and cause no damage in the garden. They feed on aphids, caterpillars, and other garden pests.
GROUND BEETLE
GROUND BEETLE
LADY BIRD BEETLE
If you must use a pesticide…
Check out this helpful product toxicity comparison chart: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/organic/files/2011/03/beetles.pdf
If you are puzzled about what is causing the problem or what more you can do, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service may be able to help. Call 512-854-9600 and ask for the Master Gardener desk, or email them at travismg@ag.tamu.edu
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SOURCE:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/organic/files/2011/03/beetles.pdf
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Content and copyright permission generousy granted by:
Austin Grow Green: www.growgreen.org, who works in close association with:
Texas AgriLife Extension Service: http://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu
Marjory Wildcraft is an Expedition Leader and Bioneer Blogger with The [Grow] Network, which is an online community that recognizes the wisdom of “homegrown food on every table.” Marjory has been featured as an expert on sustainable living by National Geographic, she is a speaker at Mother Earth News fairs, and is a returning guest on Coast to Coast AM. She is an author of several books, but is best known for her “Grow Your Own Groceries” video series, which is used by more than 300,000 homesteaders, survivalists, universities, and missionary organizations around the world.
