BANDED CUCUMBER BEETLE: Diabrotica balteata, Chrysomelidae

ADULT: These small (1/4 to 3/8 in. long), oval-shaped beetles have a dirty yellow to dark green thorax and abdomen, yellow transverse bands across the wing covers (elytra) and red to reddish-brown heads. The third tarsal segment on all legs is laterally swollen into two lobes with the last (fourth) tarsal segment originating from between the lobes.

EGG: Small, oval-shaped, pale yellow eggs are found in the soil in clusters of 1 to 12. Larvae emerge in 6 to 8 d.

LARVA: The white, elongate and soft bodied larvae have three pairs of minute legs. Larvae complete development in 15 to 22 d feeding on corn roots. Larvae are indistinguishable from those of spotted cucumber beetle (southern corn rootworm).

PUPA: The white to pale green pupae are found within round cells in soil. Adults emerge in 16 to 20 d.

GENERATION TIME: 35 to 50 d.

DAMAGE: Banded cucumber beetles are found throughout Florida, but are most common south of Tampa.  Larvae damage roots, but estimates of yield effects have not been determined for Florida corn. Severe root damage can result in lodging.  Adults are common throughout the winter months in south Florida.  While preferring to feed on weeds in the genus Amaranthus, adults can cause serious foliar damage to corn and other vegetables.  Adults feed on leaves in and out of the whorl and on silks. Adult feeding produces irregular shaped, often elongate holes in young leaf tissue within the whorls.  Delayed growth, plant stunting and stand loss can result from heavy feeding damage to whorls of seedlings. Feeding damage to older leaves is evidenced by notched leaves, window paning and irregular patches with only the veins remaining. Silk pruning can result in blanks within the ears. Feeding damage can allow penetration of pathogens, such as Stewart's wilt, which Diabrotica beetles are known to vector. Adults are good fliers and can invade and damage  fields quickly.

CONTROL: Several predacious insects and spiders prey on these insects, but migration of large numbers can quickly overwhelm the natural enemy complex.  Chemical control of adults is through contact or bait insecticides.  These latter type selectively treat the beetles as they eat the baits.  Numerous pesticides are labeled for mostly at-plant treatment of cumber beetle larvae. Formulations, rates, and pre-harvest intervals of insecticides for banded cucumber beetle control are listed below for sweet corn (Table 1) and field corn (Table 2).

Table 1.  Chemical control of corn rootworms (including cucumber beetles, southern corn rootworms, banded cucumber beetles) in sweet corn
Insecticide, formulation Rate/acre Min. days to harvest Application notes
carbaryl (Adios, Slam) 13% 0.25 - 0.75 lb 0 SCR adults
carbaryl (Sevin, Sevin XLR Plus) 4 F, 4 EC 1 - 2 qt 2 ears; 48 forage; 14** CR adults
carbaryl (Sevin) 80 WSP 1.25 - 2.5 lb 2 ears; 48 fodder; 14** CR adults
carbaryl () 4 EC 1 - 2 qt 2 ears; 48 fodder; 14** CR adults
carbofuran (Furadan) 4 F 2.5 fl oz / 1000 row-ft 30 feed forage CR; banded or in-furrow at plant
chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) 4 E *** 6 pt 35 fodder, grain; 14 ** CR adults; banded or in-furrow at plant or broadcast post-emerge
chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) 15 G 8 oz / 1000 row-ft 35 fodder, grain; 14 ** SCR larvae; banded or in-furrow at plant
cyfluthrin (Baythrioid 2) 2 EC 1.6 - 2.8 fl oz 0 CR adults
cyhalothrin (Karate, Warrior) 1 EC 2.56 - 3.84 fl oz 1 SCR adults
diazinon (D-z-n AG500) 4 EC 0.5 - 1 pt 7 CR adults
diazinon (D-z-n AG600) WBC 6.5 - 12.75 fl oz 7 CR adults
ethoprop (Mocap) 6 EC *** 1.4  fl oz / 1000 row-ft   CR adults; banded at plant (not in-furrow) or cultivation
ethoprop (Mocap) 10 G 10.5 oz / 1000 row-ft   CR adults; banded at plant (not in-furrow) or cultivation
esfenvalerate (Asana XL) 0.66 EC 5.8 - 9.6 fl oz 1 CR, BCB adults
methomyl (Lannate LV) 2.4 EC 0.75 - 1.5 pt 0 ears; 3 forage CR adults
methomyl (Lannate SP) 90 WSP 0.25 - 0.5 lb 0 ears, 3 forage CR adults
methyl parathion (Penncap-M) 2 EC 1 - 2 pt 3 ears; 12 forage, grazing CR adults
oil (Sun Spray) 7 E 2 gal / 100 gal water 0 CR adults
oxydemetonmethyl (MetaSystox-R) 2 EC 1.5 - 2 pt 7 - 1 app. , 21 - 2 app. CR adults
permethrin (Ambush) 2 EC 6.4 - 16.0 fl oz 1 CR adults
permethrin (Ambush) 25 WP, WSB*** 6.4 - 16.0 oz 1 CR adults
permethrin (Pounce) 25 WP 6.4 - 12.8 oz 1 CR adults
permethrin (Pounce) 3.2 EC 4 - 8 fl oz 1 CR adults
phorate (Thimet) 20 G 6 oz / 1000 row-ft 30 CR adults; banded at plant (not in-furrow) or cultivation
pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (Pyrenone) 66% L (EC) 2 - 12 fl oz 0 SPCB adults
pyrethrins + rotenone (Pyrellin) EC 1.5 - 2 pt 12 hr cucumber beetle
tefluthrin (Force) 3 G 4 - 5 oz / 1000 row-ft   SCR; banded or in-furrow at plant or cultivation
terbufos (Counter) 15 G 8.0 oz / 1000 row-ft 30 forage, grazing CR adults; banded or in-furrow at plant or cultivation
terbufos (Counter CR) 20 G *** 6.0 oz / 1000 row-ft 60 ears; 30 forage, grazing CR adults; banded or in-furrow at plant or cultivation
CR = corn rootworms, SCR = southern corn rootworm, BCB = banded cucumber beetle,  SPCB = spotted and 12-spotted cucumber beetle
**harvest or grazing of forage or silage
***check label for other application techniques and rates


Table 2.  Chemical control of corn rootworms (including cucumber beetles, southern corn rootworms) in field corn
Insecticide, formulation Rate/acre Min. days to harvest Application notes
carbaryl (Adios, Slam) 13% 0.25 - 0.75 lb   SCR adults
carbaryl (Sevin, Sevin XLR Plus) 4 F, 4 EC 1 - 2 qt 48 fodder, grain; 14** CR adults
carbaryl (Sevin) 80 WSP 1.25 - 2.5 lb 48 fodder, grain; 14** CR adults
carbofuran (Furadan) 4 F 2.5 fl oz / 1000 row - ft 30 feed forage CR adults; banded or in-furrow at plant or post emergence side dress
chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) 4 E*** 2.4 fl oz / 1000 row-ft or 1 - 2 pt 35 fodder, grain; 14 grazing, silage CR larvae; banded and in-furrow at plant or broadcast post-emerge
chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) 15 G 8 oz / 1000 row-ft 35 fodder, grain; 14** SCR larvae; banded or in-furrow at plant or at cultivation
cyhalothrin (Karate, Warrior) 1 EC 2.56 - 3.84 fl oz 21 SCR adults
dimethoate (Dimate, Dimethoate 400) 4 EC 0.67 - 1 pt 14 CR adults
esfenvalerate (Asana XL) 0.66 EC 5.8 - 9.6 fl oz 21 CR adults
ethoprop (Mocap) 6 EC 1.4 - 2.9 fl oz / 1000 row-ft   CR adults; banded at plant or at cultivation, not in-furrow
ethoprop (Mocap) 10 G 10.5 - 21.5 oz /1000 row-ft   CR adults; banded at plant or at cultivation, not in-furrow
ethyl parathion (Parathion) 8 EC 0.75 pt 12 CR adults
methomyl (Lannate LV) 2.4 EC 0.75 - 1.5 pt 3 forage; 21 ears, fodder CR adults
methomyl (Lannate SP) 90 WSP 0.25 - 0.5 lb 3 forage; 21 ears, fodder CR adults
methyl parathion (Penncap -M) 2 EC 1 - 2 pt 12 CR adults
oil (Sun Spray) 7 E 2 gal / 100 gal water   CR adults; early spring, summer
permethrin (Ambush) 2 EC 6.4 - 12.8 fl oz 30 harvest of fodder, grain CR adults
permethrin (Ambush) 25 W 6.4 - 12.8 oz 30 harvest of fodder, grain CR adults
permethrin (Pounce) 25 WP; WSB*** 6.4 - 12.8 oz 30 harvest of fodder, grain CR adults
permethrin (Pounce) 3.2 EC 4 - 8 fl oz 30 harvest of fodder, grain CR adults
phorate (Thimet) 20 G 6 oz / 1000 row-ft 30 CR adults; banded at plant or cultivation, not in-furrow; not popcorn
pyrethrins + rotenone (Pyrellin) EC 1 - 2 pt 12 hr cucumber beetles
tefluthrin (Force) 3 G 4 - 5 oz / 1000 row-ft   SCR; banded or in-furow at planting or cultivation
terbufos (Counter) 15 G 8.0 oz / 1000 row-ft   CR adults; banded or in-furrow at plant or cultivation
terbufos (Counter CR) 20 G 6.0 oz / 1000 row-ft   CR adults; banded or in-furrow at plant or cultivation
CR = corn rootworms, SCR = southern corn rootworm
**harvest or grazing of forage or silage
***check label for other application techniques and rates