Pest Profile: Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum (F.)) and Western striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma trivittatum (Mannerheim)) (Coleoptera: chrysomelidae)

Authors: Haber, Ariela; WALLINGFORD, ANNA - University Of New Hampshire; GRETTENBERGER, IAN - University Of California, Davis; RAMIREZ BONILLA, JASMIN - University Of California, Davis; VINCHESI-VAHL, AMBER - University Of California; Weber, Donald

Submitted to: Journal of Integrated Pest Management
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/5/2020
Publication Date: 1/6/2021
Citation: Haber, Ariela I, Anna K. Wallingford, Ian M. Grettenberger, Jasmin P. Ramirez Bonilla, Amber C. Vinchesi-Vahl, and Donald C. Weber. Striped cucumber Beetle and Western Striped Cucumber Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management 12(1): 1; 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaa026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaa026

Interpretive Summary: Striped cucumber beetle and the closely-related western striped cucumber beetle are key pests of cucurbit crops (squash, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers) in North America. They reduce yield or even kill seedlings by feeding on the crops and vectoring pathogens. Insecticides are used to control striped cucumber beetles but these are not always effective, and can have adverse nontarget effects, such as to pollinators that are required for most cucurbits. This pest profile describes the biology, life stages, and damage caused by both species, and discusses various methods for managing these pests in cucurbit crops. These methods involve biological, cultural, physical, chemical, and behavioral methods to manage pest populations. The profile will be useful to anyone with an interest in cucurbit crops, including farmers, gardeners, pest management practitioners and researchers.

Technical Abstract: Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum (F.)) and the closely-related Western striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma trivittatum (Mannerheim)) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are closely related species of herbivores endemic to North America that specialize on Cucurbitaceae plants. StCB and WStCB are key pests of cucurbit crops that reduce yield or even kill seedlings by feeding on plants and vectoring pathogens. Insecticides used to control StCB and WStCB can have adverse nontarget effects, but a number of nonchemical management methods are also known to help control these pests. Here we describe the biology, life stages, and damage caused by StCB and WStCB and discuss methods for managing these pests in cucurbit crops.