Unfortunately, insecticides used to control cucumber beetle also kill these beneficial insects. Control of the twospotted spider mite requires two applications of miticide. The first application kills all mite stages except for the eggs. The eggs will hatch in five to seven days at which time a second application should be applied. Check Extension bulletin E-312 for insecticides registered for control of twospotted spider mites.
Picnic beetles are the same size, but have two yellow spots on their back.
Both of these beetles feed on sap of damaged fruit in many different crops. The beetles are attracted to fermenting plant fluid from the damaged plant and are rarely the cause of the damage. Several viruses infect and damage squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins in Michigan. Each of these viruses may infect squash, cucumber, and pumpkins alone or in combination with any of the other viruses. Infected plants may be stunted and distorted.