Graduation date: 2006Research was conducted in the field and greenhouse to determine if a kaolinite-based particle film, Surround®, would reduce colonization and early season feeding damage in cucurbits by the Western Striped Cucumber Beetle, Acalymma trivitattum (Mannerheim). Greenhouse studies were designed to determine effect of particle film on cucumber dry weight production and (2) relationship between cucurbitacin content and adult feeding damage to two cucumber varieties, Experiments were conducted in 2004 – 05 on commercial farms in western Oregon during 2004 and 2005. Greenhouse enclosure trials were also conducted in 2004 and 2005. Different rates of solution and manners of application were evaluated. Young plantings of cucurbit crops which received label-rate applications of the kaolinite-based particle film (KBPF) had fewer A. trivitattum adults and less feeding damage than untreated plants. Weight of marketable fruit harvested from plants dipped in the particle film solution prior to transplanting or sprayed with the particle film immediately after transplanting were significantly greater than weight of marketable fruit harvested from untreated plants. In the greenhouse, a 1x rate applied to the top sides of leaves significantly increased dry weight over the UTC. Plant damage to cucumber seedlings from both Acalymma and Diabrotica adults was significantly reduced by the kaolin based particle film. However, in the absence of insect pests, the kaolin-based particle film significantly reduced plant dry weights of plants compared to the UTC when applied to both underside and topside of leaves at 1x rate as well as when applied at the 2x rate to the topside of leaves. KBPF treated cucurbit seedlings attract fewer WSCB, sustain less feeding damage as seedlings and yield better than untreated plants.