This year, in my garden at least, there were not many of the cuke beetles, but those little buggers made quite an impact. They affected my beans, heirloom tomatoes, melons and lemon cukes. The adults laid their eggs on my cockscomb amaranth, since no corn was around I suppose, which had grown to 6-feet! I can't imagine a swarm of the little devils! Although only the melons and a couple of heirloom tomato plants failed to survive the attack, they delayed maturation by my account about 2 weeks of several other tomato varieties, like beefsteak, producing wilt all round the yard or so it seemed. My early strategy, before I saw the beetle adults, was to attack the wilt problem as a fungus because we had so much rain in the Spring and the heirlooms showed the first signs. Once I found an adult in my melons, I mixed a solution of neem oil, antibacterial dish soap, and a horticultural oil and sprayed generally, especially the beans and tomatoes. While this had some impact on the beetles and aphids on the nasturtiums, what I found more effective was the addition of a jalapeno pepper solution to the initial mix which really seem to slow their advance. But, by then, however, they had already laid their eggs on the roots of my amaranth, which I discovered when pulling up a group that had fallen over, I thought from some heavy wind, but it proved to be the work of the spotted yellow microbeast that had attacked the roots. I was able to destroy quite a few of the young by hand and foot (where is that cordless vacuum when you need it?). Now, I'm preparing a plan to deal with this pest for next season as I clean and prepare the beds for winter. One recommendation is to turn over the soil to expose any larva and remove any root debris. Any other ideas would be appreciated. Also, below are two links to some information about organic controls related to this discussion: Cucumber beetles: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/cucumberbeetle.pdf Squash pests: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/squash_pest.pdf ATTRA Plant Diseases ID and Management Brochure, 4 pages (A very handy tool for newbies and masters): http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/IPM/disease.pdf

That seems to be very true, huh Catherine? If I could get a bug to go after the cuke beetles and squash vine borers, my gardening would be much easier. You are probably right about this wasp. In the morning there is a flurry of all kinds of flying critters around the okra blooms. They were especially thick this morning. It could be because it had stopped raining for the first time in three days as to the higher activity...not sure. Tee

Spraying plants with bug juice, or leaving a can of dead bugs on display, can't hurt, and probably helps. I had read that the JB sends a scout and then the scout releases a scent telling others it's a good spot. My experience last year goes along with that. I was in the garden, one arrived and I hadn't yet set up my can. I was working on putting my glove on, but before I could, two more came, started sexing on a leaf, and then a bunch more piled on. I ran and set up the can and started flicking them in and kept the can at hand, but also on display in case there was some kind of scent of death. The first year I had JB, I got the scout and stepped on him, then left his body on the ground. I definitely think there's something to this, although I've never been able to catch cucumber beetles quickly enough. They're tricky.

What are they doing? Can you post pictures? If so, they would help us help you.