Bugs In My Vegetable Plants - Ask Extension
I am growing a number of vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, melon.I am noticing some damage in the plants, trying to understand what i...
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Bugs In My Vegetable Plants #193112
Asked June 21, 2014, 8:00 PM EDT
I am growing a number of vegetables - tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, melon.
I am noticing some damage in the plants, trying to understand what it is, if it is a concern and what if any are my options to control if I want to continue to be ORGANIC.
The damage looks a little different in the plants so I am not sure if I have two issues or one.
I am noticing some damage in the plants, trying to understand what it is, if it is a concern and what if any are my options to control if I want to continue to be ORGANIC.
The damage looks a little different in the plants so I am not sure if I have two issues or one.
- In the tomato and pepper plants I am seeing some black bugs (pictures attached). The leafs have some holes
- In the melon, squash, cucumber the leaf look like they have been eaten from the back (not fully through) and the leaf then start dying turning white/grey. I have not seen the black bugs on them (picture attached, similar for all three plants)
Denver County Colorado
Expert Response
Tomatoes/peppers have potato flea beetles; they are causing the small holes in leaves. The most organic option is to let them have some of the pepper and tomato leaves. Usually flea beetle injury subsides by early summer and new leaves produced by the plants are not affected. More info: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05592.html
The injury to squash - I'm not sure what's doing that. Look in flowers and on leaf undersides of squash/cuke/melon for spotted or striped greenish beetles.
The injury to squash - I'm not sure what's doing that. Look in flowers and on leaf undersides of squash/cuke/melon for spotted or striped greenish beetles.
Thanks Robert.
I just went and checked. I saw a green bug with wings. And in my hummingbird plants that also look like they have similar damage there was a green bug more like a beetle.
What are does and how do I manage them? Can I also let them be and they will go or do I need to be more aggressive? Again trying to stay organic.
Thanks for your help :)
I just went and checked. I saw a green bug with wings. And in my hummingbird plants that also look like they have similar damage there was a green bug more like a beetle.
What are does and how do I manage them? Can I also let them be and they will go or do I need to be more aggressive? Again trying to stay organic.
Thanks for your help :)
not sure without photo. See attached photos of Striped and Spotted Cuke Beetles. Don't worry about few of them, but many can damage leaves or flowers and they can transmit bacterial and viral diseases..
See also: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1496.html
See also: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1496.html
