Intercepting insect pests of cucurbit crops with lethal seedling traps as a pollinator friendly management method

Production of cucurbit crops present growers with a number of challenges.  Striped cucumber beetle Acalymma vittatum (F.) and squash bug Anasa tristis (DeGeer), are major direct pests and plant pathogen vectors.  Insect pest management is critical due to the severe status of these pests and can include mechanical barriers, such as row covers, and chemical applications.  Organic growers are therefore met with major challenges due to the short residual time, questionable efficacy, and expense of many approved chemicals.  Conventional growers face controversies surrounding the use of chemical insecticides, in regard to pollinator safety.  A study to examine the potential of a perimeter trap-cropping regime based on using systemic insecticide treated plant seedlings contained by plastic barriers was conducted in central Kentucky for two years.  This potential strategy could alleviate many concerns surrounding conventional trap-cropping including systemic insecticides.  By using young, non-flowering plants, this method could help reduce the exposure risk to pollinating insects and, because applications are not made directly to crops, consideration in certified organic production may be possible.  Results of pilot studies have shown promise, and have been evaluated in the field for main crops of both muskmelon and winter squash.  Additional considerations of lethality have been investigated in the laboratory.  Certified organic alternatives have also been subjected to factorial comparison with synthetic insecticides and additional gustatory stimulants.