Striped cucumber beetle larvae hatch from orange-yellow eggs laid at the base of plants. Adult beetles damage all plant parts above the soil line, feeding on fruits, soft new shoots, flowers and leaves. Stunted growth is a sign of a cucumber beetle problem. Larvae feed on cucurbit roots and underground portions of the stems. This feeding does not affect plant health. Striped cucumber beetles can carry the bacteria that causes bacterial wilt which infects the plants' vascular system and causes plants to wilt. Once the plant is infected, it cannot be saved.

A fully developed, healthy cucurbit plants can withstand 25-50% defoliation before yields are dramatically affected.

Two low impact insecticides. Neem is a plant based pesticide that prevents insects from feeding, which eventually kills them. Pyrethrins have no residual and treatments need to come in contact with the beetles to be effective.

Broad- spectrum insecticides are longer lasting but can kill a variety of insects, so use them carefully and judiciously. Examples of broad-spectrum pesticides available include: permethrin, bifenthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and carbaryl.