Cucumber Beetles

Examine 5 plants in 5-10 locations for the number of beetles per plant and % plants showing injury (light, moderate, heavy)

2 per plant

- Most important on young seedlings

-Carefully check field margins, under plastic, cracks in ground around base of plants

Thrips

Examine 5 crown leaves in 5-10 locations for the presence of thrips and feeding injury(silver flecks esp near large leaf veins)

Leaf injury is heavy and plants are not actively growing

Generally a problem early, when plants are drought stressed

Melon Aphid

Examine 5 runners in 5-10 locations and record the % of the runners infested with 5 or more aphids per leaf

20% or more of the runners infested with 5 or more aphids per leaf

- Generally occurs in spots

- Be sure to note presence of beneficials

Spider Mites

Examine 5 crown leaves in 5-10 locations for the presence of mites and mite injury

20-30% of the crowns infested with 1-2 mites per leaf

- Be sure to sample carefully near rye strips and in the sandiest areas of the field

Leafhoppers

Examine 5 runners in 5-10 locations for the presence of leafhopper nymphs. A sweep net can also be used to check for adults.

Detection of "hopper burn" on leaf edges

- Begin to watch for migrant adults after bloom