What Should I Do With The Insects On My Cantaloupe?

Do you have problems with aphids, tiny insects that cause distorted, yellow leaves?

Do you have problems with loopers, pale green caterpillars that make holes in leaves, often making extensive damage?

Do you have problems with cucumber beetles, brightly colored beetles that cause scarred fruits and damaged leaves?

Do you have problems with cutworms, 1-2 inches long, brown, or gray caterpillars that cut off seedlings at the soil line?

Do you have problems with squash bugs, gray-black bugs with orange and black stripes on the edges of their abdomen?

Do you have problems with stinkbugs, shield-shaped, brown, or green insects with the unpleasant smell when killed?

Do you have problems with thrips, tiny, yellow to black insects that make leaves covered in coarse stippling and may appear silvery?

Do you have problems with flea beetles, tiny bugs that puncture small holes in leaves?

Aphids cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Cabbage looper attacks cantaloupe. Looper populations are usually held in check by natural enemies, but if they do become problematic larvae can be hand-picked from the plants. The application of BTK will effectively kill younger larvae.

Adult cucumber beetles are brightly colored with either a green-yellow background and black spots or alternating black and yellow stripes. Applications of kaolin clay can be effective for the management of small beetle populations. The application of pyrethrin is effective in heavier infestations.

Cutworms feed at night by cutting off young plants and sometimes eating them whole. During the day, they are hidden below the soil surface. Control them by introducing parasitic nematodes to the ground. Using BTK spray on the ground will also control their numbers.

Leaves with pale green patches that later wilt and turn black are caused by Squash bugs. They lay their bright orange eggs on the undersides of leaves. Handpick adults and eggs. Place a board on the ground near plants. Lift it each morning and destroy the bugs hiding underneath. Apply insecticidal soap if the infestation is heavy.

Stink bugs cause dark-colored pinpricks on fruit surrounded by a lighter area that turns yellow or remains light green. They often carry pathogens in their mouthparts which can cause secondary infections and decay of the fruit. Organically accepted control methods include the use of insecticidal soaps, kaolin clay, and the preservation of natural enemies.

Thrips hide under the leaves. Severely infected plant parts should be removed and destroyed. Control thrips by introducing lady beetles or lacewings, their natural predators. Insecticidal soap helps in severe infestations.

Flea beetles may overwinter on nearby weed species, so keep the garden weed-free. Prevent problems by covering young plants with floating row cover. Control severe infestations by spraying or dusting plants with pyrethrin.

All mentioned insects are common insects that attack cantaloupe. If none of them is the problem, the first step is the identification of the pest. If you have problems with insects and caterpillars, most problems can be solved with the application of insecticidal soap, neem oil, or BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis), but before you resort to that identify them and control accordingly.