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Cucumber · Cucumis sativus

What is eating my cucumber plants?

Pests like cucumber beetles are common visitors that can damage your crop and spread disease. Check your plants early in the morning when these bugs are sluggish and easy to handpick.

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pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Inspect the undersides of leaves.
  2. Look for holes in the foliage.
  3. Check the flowers for beetles.

Likely causes

  1. Cucumber Beetles

    Most likely

    How to tell: Small yellow beetles with stripes or spots eating holes in the leaves and flowers.

    What to do: Handpick the beetles in the early morning when they are sluggish. Use floating row covers early in the season to prevent them from landing on your plants.

  2. Aphids

    Possible

    How to tell: Tiny green or black insects clustering on the undersides of leaves or on new growth.

    What to do: Blast the aphids off with a strong stream of water from your hose. If they persist, apply insecticidal soap according to the label directions.

Pests on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your cucumber

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Worry when you see large numbers of beetles or if the plant begins to wilt suddenly. A few bugs are normal, but an infestation can kill the plant.

Stopping it coming back

Rotate your crops every year and keep the garden free of debris where beetles hide during the winter.

Cucumber: pests? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your cucumber and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Do I need to use harsh chemicals?
No, you can usually manage pests with handpicking, row covers, and gentle soaps. Avoid broad spectrum pesticides that kill beneficial pollinators.
Why are my flowers disappearing?
Cucumber beetles love to feed on the tender petals of cucumber flowers. If you see them in the blooms, pick them off immediately to protect your future harvest.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Cucumber

Back to the Cucumber guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.