Cucumber beetles come in two forms, the spotted cucumber beetle of the diabrotica species and the striped cucumber beetle of the acalymma species. Both are common pests of the curcurbit family and can be of harm to the many plants in the curcurbit family, including cucumbers, gourds, muskmelons, pumpkins, watermelon, and summer and winter squash.
Cucumber beetles are especially fond of melons, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins.
It is essential to control cucumber beetle populations because they contribute to the spread of two other curcurbit family killers, mosaic virus and bacterial wilt. Curcurbit family plants with cucumber beetle damage will have holes in their leaves which appear to be chewed. The cucumber beetle damage and chewed, ragged holes may also extend to the leafstalks and stem areas of the curcubrbit family plants. The holes vary in size and may join together to form larger openings. Seedlings are especially susceptible and in many cases whole plants can wither, wilt, and die prematurely if left untreated.