Something eating my squash/melons

[Colojd]

I tried the suggestion of Gold Bond powder and this seems to have done the trick for now. I bought the extra strength version. Very strong menthol smell but better than getting out the insecticide!

I water only in the early mornings, occasionally again later in the early evening if we had a scorcher day, as we have had. The leaves that were eaten either had small holes, or they entire leaf was eaten to the point that it was see through.

Last year I had a big infestation of a small beetle, looked like a yellow and black ladybug but they were all over my vining plants. Have not seen them this year, yet though. Have seen some grasshoppers.

So I can recommend that for the time being, the Gold Bond powder seems to have done the trick!

[CityMouse]

American Gardener, I liked the idea of putting sticky traps around the garden. I really want to catch that irritating flying grasshopper. I haven't made up my mind if I will kill him quickly or maybe torture him for awhile like he has been doing to me. I sent DH to Lowe's to buy some traps and the lady said she thought she knew what the traps were but didn't think they had any of them. She said that he would have to go to a big garden center. Am I missing something here? I thought that was where I had sent him!,

[yorkerjenny7]

Originally Posted by Colojd

Last year I had a big infestation of a small beetle, looked like a yellow and black ladybug but they were all over my vining plants.

It sounds to me cucumber beetles. The first time I saw them, I said to myself how cute they were. Meanwhile, they were countless all around. I had no clue, until my cucumber plants were dying and seeing their pictures and info on the internet.

[American_Gardener]

CM.. I've never tried looking for any garden items in Lowes.. never even thought to go there for anything other than building supplies.

I would think they'd be fairly common items just about anywhere that sells gardening supplies. I've even seen em at Acco.. which dosen't carry much of anything.

You can always make your own outta yellow plastic cups and some type of adhesive that would stay tacky in sunlight. They actually make a special adhesive called Tangelfoot and a few other brand names, made specifically for this use. So, you might want to make your own if you can't find any.

Colojd.. you neglected to mention that you had cucumber beetles last year. That's what your yellow ladybugs were. Spotted cucumber beetles. Now, with that new info i'm gonna change my mind about what's eating your leaves. I think they're back and you just haven't seen em yet. They are very sneaky... they'll drop down to the ground if they see ya coming or go to the underside of the leaves and hide. Or if they get enough of a chance they'll fly several rows away and wait for ya to leave.

I'm thinking that the gold bond might be just what you need. It's better to use it even if you don't see an infestation right now.. cause by the time you do you could be too late. The majority of the harm caused by those cucumber beetles is in the diseases they spread... and those don't show up immediately either.
So, it's better to keep whatever beetles you can away. It only takes one diseased beetle to infect the plants.. and then those will spread it amongst the other plants.

Let us know if the leaves get eaten again.. I'd like to see how that gold bond works for ya.

Dave

[CityMouse]

AG, you are very blessed to have stores where you can buy all these different supplies. Unfortunately for me, I don't have a lot of options. I have to depend on Walmart, Lowe's, Home Depot or maybe some of the hardward stores around here. The only other choices are to drive long distances to stores or order over the internet. There is a lot of development that is coming into my area so hopefully, someday, we will have stores that can meet all of our gardening needs.