BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 8, 2022
It’s bad enough when insects chew on growing vegetables. But one beetle takes it one step further by killing plants simply by pooping on them. Maine gardeners who are seeing their cucumbers, melons or gourds wilt this summer may have the striped cucumber beetle to blame. The insect carries a disease that it defecates on plants and causes its vines or leaves to wilt and turn yellow. If it gets bad enough, it will kill the growing vegetable.