Striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma sp

http://tuakoo.notlong.com/ 25 June 2008 Striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma sp

This ubiquitious bug is seen throughout the garden, but predominately on the potatoe leaves. I notice this bug when squashing the few Colorado Potato beetles present. There are not many, and the bug moves quicky, so it is necessary to clap the hands together and squash leaf and bug. The shell casing is very hard, and it takes considerable force to squash.

The beetled carries Bacterial Wilt Erwinia tracheiphila. Crops affected are mainly cucumber and cantaloupe, but also squash and pumpkin to a limited extent.The pathogen survives for extended periods in its cucumber beetle vectors.

Control cucumber beetles with insecticides. Reference: http://kuwiere.notlong.com/