Garden Pests and Cucumber Plants

Aphids

• Usually found on new stems and the underside of leaves, aphids suck fluid from the cucumber leaves, causing them to shrivel and turn yellow. Aside from certain pesticides, a strong stream of water can wash these small green insects away and limit damage.

Cucumber Beetles

• Adult cucumber beetles are roughly 1/4 inch long and have a black head, yellow body, and yellow wing coverings, although some varieties may also feature spotted or striped backs. They chew leaves, bore into roots, and spread wilt and other diseases. Pesticides, water spraying and hand picking are the best means of control.

Flea Beetles

• These jumping brown beetles eat holes in cucumber plant leaves. They can be controlled through pesticides.

Pickleworm

• These pests burrow into the cucumber through a small entrance hole, making the fruit inedible. The best control remains chemical treatments.

Slugs and Snails

• Fond of moist places, slugs and snails will devour large portions of cucumber plants. They are large enough and slow enough to be individually removed. Leaving a board in the soil will attract the slugs and snails to the underside, allowing them to be trapped and eliminated.