Remember to remove the covers during flowering to ensure pollination. Handpicking to remove the beetles is time-consuming but effective. In addition, several predators and parasites are enemies of cucumber beetles. These tiny mites feed on the contents of individual cells of the leaves. This damage appears as pale yellow and reddish-brown spots ranging in size from small specks to large areas on the upper sides of leaves.
Damage can develop very quickly and the mites can kill or seriously stunt the growth of plants.
Because of their small size, spider mites are hard to detect until vines are damaged with hundreds of mites on each leaf. Certain insecticides applied at planting or as a foliar spray for insect control apparently contribute to severe outbreaks of mites on melons by killing their natural enemies. Insecticidal soaps generally offer adequate control when applied before the numbers are too high. Make two applications five days apart. Mites can be removed with a strong spray of water.