Cucurbit crops are important throughout the south central United States. Insects, mainly squash bug, are important pests that limit cucurbit production in the region. Effective management strategies exist for cucurbits and are based on knowledge of crop growth, pest biology and judicious pesticide use. Some of these pesticides are currently under review by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registration losses would hamper commercial cucurbit production. Therefore, it is important that alternative strategies be established for managing these pests.
Studies were conducted in 2000 and 2001 in Oklahoma to compare a trap crop system to the traditional use of an early season systemic insecticide for squash bug management in watermelon. Squash was used as a trap crop for attracting squash bug. In the trap crop treatment two squash rows surrounded watermelon fields. For the pesticide treatment, only watermelon was planted and carbofuran was applied banded at 1 lb AI/acre. Insect populations were estimated by counting adults and nymphs on 3 plants per 65x36-foot subsampling plots in each 0.9 acre fields. Greater squash bug populations were found on watermelon with a trap crop than without. Squash bugs were found in carbofuran treated fields at some locations
Species 1: Hemiptera Coreidae Anasa tristis (Squash bug)
Keywords: Squash bug
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA