cucumber pollenation question

[Lorri D]

I know how to pollenate my squash, but I'm having trouble with my cucumbers. I wanted to hand pollenate some of my cucumbers to ensure I get some going. The bees have been hit and miss so far.

So, I thought I'd do it just like my squash, only when I went to do it in the morning I couldn't find any male flowers with pollen. I'm not sure if I am just missing the time when it is optimal to collect the pollen or if they just aren't producing any.

To add to this, I've also noticed these tiny bugs in every flower-mostly the male flowers. They look like tiny moving splinters and I think they might be eating the pollen. I've searched on line for pictures of them and I have not been able to figure out what they are. Thank you for any help

[matereater]

Lorri, the little bugs you're seeing sound a lot like this problem;

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=23241

hope this helps.

[Lorri D]

They are flower thrips. Most of the male floweres are completely hollowed out. Just a hole in the middle of the flower where the pollen parts used to be.

They really do look like moving splinters. It appears there are many kinds. Mine are the size of one mm in length and they swarm on my blossoms 5 to 10 to a flower. They are so small they can wiggle right into the new blossoms that haven't even opened yet. I'm going to buy some sticky yellow papers to try and trap them.

I am not sure if they can fly or jump, but I am also thinking of trying to apply a sticky gel called tangle to the outside of some of the blossoms to try to keep them out. The tangle gel is mostly used on trees and containers etc...

So, we will see and I will try to report back any results. Thank you