Something eating my squash/melons

[Colojd]

I need quick help on what to do regarding a pest that has eaten one of my squash and now has put some holes in melon leaves. The squash within a day or so ended up with leaves that were almost see through. Wondering if it is aphids and if I can use sevin safely on them. I want to garden naturally and organically but at this rate, whatever it is will wipe out all of my melons (cantalopes) soon. Does not seem to be bothering the tomatoes, eggplant or peppers but I did see a couple of holes in my cucumber leaves and they are just getting really nice so I don't want my whole garden wiped out.

I did blast all of the leaves this morning with water - I know that helps with aphids if that is what it is my need urgent advice! Thanks.

Joyce

[Denninmi]

Well, it is 100% certainly NOT aphids -- they are sucking insects, and don't make or chew holes. It could be a lot of things -- Japanese beetles, slugs, earwigs, various caterpillars, flea beetles, etc. But, whatever it is, your best bet is some type of barrier pesticide/repellant -- a plant dust of some type. Sevin dust or similar if you wish, Diatomaceous Earth or Pyrethrin/Rotenone if you want to be more "organic". I've had good results with Gold Bond type medicated body powder as a chewing deterrant as well, but I buy the dollar store version since it's about 1/5th the cost -- although not a pesticide per se, it seems to deter them -- I think they don't like the scent and flavor of the menthol and eucalyptol in the powder.

[Colojd]

Thanks so much for the advice. You are right about the aphids, didn't think about them not being chewing insects. I will try the Gold Bond powder, great idea and then will go to Sevin as a last resort. I don't want to lose my melons at this point. They are just blooming.

[Train]

Originally Posted by Denninmi

Well, it is 100% certainly NOT aphids -- they are sucking insects, and don't make or chew holes. It could be a lot of things -- Japanese beetles, slugs, earwigs, various caterpillars, flea beetles, etc. But, whatever it is, your best bet is some type of barrier pesticide/repellant -- a plant dust of some type. Sevin dust or similar if you wish, Diatomaceous Earth or Pyrethrin/Rotenone if you want to be more "organic". I've had good results with Gold Bond type medicated body powder as a chewing deterrant as well, but I buy the dollar store version since it's about 1/5th the cost -- although not a pesticide per se, it seems to deter them -- I think they don't like the scent and flavor of the menthol and eucalyptol in the powder.

Yup!
That would be my guess. Another guess is late evening watering.
That really brings them out, especially snails and they will flat
eat our lunch.
Train

[yorkerjenny7]

If the wholes are big, maybe japanese beetles. If the holes are small maybe cucumber beetles. In early morning go and check around if you see any bug, then try to find it's picture on the internet or post here.

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

Grasshoppers Maybe?

[Doug W.]

Cucumber Beetles are my biggest vine pest. They are small yellow beetles with black stripes or black dots...two kinds I've come across. I use a garlic spray that I purchase. It does seem to make the plants less tasty, resulting in much less leaf damage. I spray every 5-7 days on my giant pumpkin plants which seem to attract them most.....I start these much earlier, maybe that's why. After the male flowers start opening up, they the seem to like it inside them. Each day I try and pick all the newly bloomed male flowers, and squish all the cucumber beetles inside. Lately it seems their numbers are declining inside the flowers...maybe I'm weakening their army.

[CityMouse]

Denninmi, I am also, having a problem with something eating holes in the leaves of my beans and eggplants. I have a bag of the diatomaceous earth but haven't used it. I thought you had to spread it on the ground. Do you sprinkle it on the leaves too? Is the medicated powder you mentioned safe to use on plants that will be used for food? I guess since you are still alive and well, it must be safe.

[American_Gardener]

Joyce..

It sounds to me like japanese beetles. They'll eat the entire leaves except for the veins in there. Are the holes that big or are they pin holes? I don't beleive it would be cucumber beetles.. although they will eat mature leaves they perfer the new shoots or the blossoms. And they'd eat the entire leaf. They'd probably hang around alot more that JBs would too. But, it's still a possibility.. keep your eye out for any kind of flying beetles in the area. And neither one of those two types of beetles really like tomatoes or peppers.. cucumber beetles will eat tomatoes.. but usually not if they have something they like better to eat in the area.

I think we can rule out slugs.. those would eat the leaves from the edges, and then you'd most likely see slime trails on the leaves. It could still be some sort of catepillars, but then you'd be able to find those alot easier than a beetle. They just can't run away as fast! And i suppose it could still be a grasshopper too.. although i beleive they eat from the edges too. But, look around for those while you're at it.

So, i guess you might want to try spraying if you think it's a beetle. Don't know anything that will kill those darn JB.. but I've had pretty good success using wood ashes and lime dust to keep the cucumber beetles at bay. Another person i know says he's having good success with a peppermint/soap spray for those too.

The worst thing you got to worry about if it is the cucmber beetle is the diseases they spread. The diseases will kill your plants faster than the nibbling they do. It takes about a month after they infect the plants but they will definately kill em. Japanese beetles on the other hand eat more.. but don't spread the diseases CBs do.

City.. yours also sounds like Japanese beetles to me.. they happen to love some types of beans. Like i said i don't know anything that'll kill em.. so try whatever you can to make the leaves less appetitizing to em.

And you guys might want to consider putting out some sticky traps.. that's one way to find out whats there and it might even lower the population some.

[FiberFlinger]

I made bug juice this week. I picked every bug I could find in the garden, looper's, squash bugs and their egg casings, beetles, you name it. Took it into the house and pulverized it in a quart of water with the blender. Set it aside to ferment. Strained about a pint today through a coffee filter. Boy did it stink!, put it in my little sprayer with some Neem and went into the garden and sprayed everything. Will let you know how this turns out if I can remember where I posted.

I have had some decent luck with the squash bugs this year. Only one squash plant that I half way cared about succumbed to them. It is still hanging on with one spaghetti squash on it and I am trying to figure out what to put there when I pull it out. I squashed the egg casings every day for the last month or better on all my plants. They finally found my zucchini today and I was there to greet them.