The most common insects found on cucumbers include the green peach aphid, California thrips, whitefly, and leaf miners.
Among harmful insects, the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) poses the biggest problem in open fields and is the main vector of cucumber mosaic virus. Harmful insects in protected environments include the California thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), the common red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), and leaf miners.
California Thrips
This small insect is widespread in almost all greenhouses. It most commonly attacks peppers, less frequently cucumbers and tomatoes. The damage is most visible on peppers, where the fruits remain small, underdeveloped, and show surface necrosis.
Control: Spraying provides limited results, but thermal or cold fogging gives significantly better results. The insecticides used include active ingredients such as dichlorvos, pirimiphos-methyl, diazinon, malathion, alpha-cypermethrin, bifenthrin (not for use on peppers), deltamethrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin, as well as fumigant doses of sulfotep.
Whitefly
A small white moth, approximately 2 mm in length. Signs of infestation include the presence of honeydew on fruits and leaves, which later leads to the growth of sooty mold fungi on these sticky surfaces. Tomatoes are most affected, with lesser damage to cucumbers, eggplants, zucchinis, and peppers.
Control: Frequent spraying is essential. Preparations containing active ingredients such as diazinon, dichlorvos, malathion, pirimiphos-methyl, and fumigant doses of sulfotep are used. Along with chemical control, other measures should be implemented, such as removing weeds from the greenhouse, using verified planting material, and maintaining greenhouse hygiene.
Leaf Miners
These are small flies, with larvae that burrow into leaves, causing damage. They attack cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, and zucchinis, while peppers are rarely affected.
Control: Using the insecticide cyromazine is effective.
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