Author
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Pair, Sammy |
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Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Cucumber beetle and squash bug are serious pests of cucurbit crops in the Southern Plains. Cucumber beetles devour seedlings, reduce plant stands, and are capable of transmitting certain plant diseases. Squash bug feeding on plant sap robs the plant of nutrients and results in wilting or death. Both insects can also damage cucurbit fruit. Currently, producers must apply costly insecticides to the entire crop for control of these pests when damaging populations are detected. Alternative measures to conventional methods of control are needed to reduce economic inputs and reduce pesticide use/risk. Tests were conducted in seedling cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon at Lane, OK to evaluate trap crops of squash, treated with systemic insecticides, and attracticidal baits for control of early-season populations of cucumber beetle and squash bug. Squash is a more attractive host than other cucurbits to both pests, and especially when the trap plants are positioned in the field prior to emergence of the primary crop. Data showed that <1% plantings of squash-trap plants that were treated with systemic insecticides were very effective in attracting and killing cucumber beetle and squash bug. Trap plants attracted 32-66 of the beetle population, depending on crop, and provided over 90% mortality. Squash bug were effectively trapped in cantaloupe and watermelon and attracted 32% of the population in squash seedlings. Attracticidal baits killed as high as 70% of the cucumber beetles but was effective for only 3- 5 days. Results of these studies indicate that small plantings of insecticide treated squash can be effectively used to manage early-season populations of cucumber beetle and squash bug while reducing pesticide requirements in cucurbit crops. Technical Abstract: Squash plants treated with carbofuran successfully attracted and killed early-season populations of squash bug(SB), Anasa tristis, and cucumber beetle(CUC), Acalymma vittatum, at five locations in Atoka County,OK during 1992. In 1993, responses of CUC beetle and SB to carbofuran-treated squash trap plants and to Adios or Adios-AG baits were compared in<1.0 ha plots of fseedling cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon at Lane, OK. Cucumber beetles and SB were highly attracted to transplanted 4-6 leaf or >6-12 leaf stage squash over a 3-4 wk period even though it represented less than 1% of the total acreage. When CUC beetle numbers attracted to squash trap-plants were compared with the estimated total population in the fields, 39.7, 32.4, and 66.3 %, respectively, were observed on squash trap plants in cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon seedlings. Squash trap plants resulted in >90 and 16 37 % mortality, respectively, of CUC beetles and SB found on the plants. Single applications of Adios and Adios-Ag baits killed up to 70% of the CU beetles for 3-5 days. Studies conducted in 1994 showed that greater number of CUC beetles, were attracted to Blue Hubbard than Lemondrop squash trap plants that were treated with carbofuran (0.15g AI) or imidacloprid (0.04g AI), and placed in a field of seedling watermelon. Imidacloprid was as effective as carbofuran, each provided >90% CUC beetle mortality. In this study, an estimated 46.7% of the CUC beetle population was attracted to the squash trap plants. These studies suggest that minimal plantings of systemically treated squash can be used effectively to suppress early season populations of CUC beetle and SB in seedling cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon. Suppression of CUC beetle can also be enhanced by application of attracticidal baits. |
