Field experiments were performed to verify the influence of polyethylene mulches (red, blue, gray, black, and yellow) on the development and yield of two varieties of cucumber (Cucumis sativus), a hybrid, `Turbo' and an open-pollinated, `Marketmore 76'. The influence of the mulches on the population dynamics of the adult striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) was also observed. Rhizosphere temperature, reflected surface temperatures, reflected wavelength, vine length, leaf number, leaf area, total fruit produced, and number of marketable fruit were some of the characteristics measured. A split plot experiment in a randomized blocks design with three replications was used. In relation to plant growth and yield, plants grown on red mulch showed the best growth and yield overall compared to blue, gray, black, and yellow colored mulches, The incidence of the cucumber beetles was highest in the yellow colored mulch. The `Turbo' variety had the highest fruit number in almost all of the colors of mulch compared to the open pollinated `Marketmore'. It is suggested that the differential growth and development of cucumbers was influenced by the rhizosphere temperature as well as the light spectrum reflected from the plastic. The response of the beetles to the mulch was mainly attributed to the different wavelengths reflected from the various mulches.