We conducted an extensive survey in 1998-99 and an intensive survey in 2001-02 to evaluate status of arthropod pests on watermelon, their temporal and spatial distributions, and variation in these distributions among geographic regions in Oklahoma. The extensive survey covered up to 30% of watermelon production areas and 22 of 77 counties in 3 of 4 geographic districts. The cucumber beetles and squash bug were more abundant in time and space than the melon aphid and spider mite. The southwest (SW) district had greater pest occurrence and abundance than the northeast (NE) and southeast (SW) districts. Early planting date and large field correlated positively with pest abundance. The intensive survey revealed that adult density per plant of the cucumber beetle and squash bug was lower in 2001 (respectively 0.06±0.01 and 0.30±0.03) than 2002 (respectively 0.25±0.02 and 0.6±0.04). In 2001 the cucumber beetle had higher density in SW than SE (0.17±0.03 versus 0.03±0.01), but the squash bug density was lower in SW than SE (0.01±0.01 versus 0.36±0.04). Among 3 fields in SE in 2002, adult populations of both insects were significantly different. Overall, when population density was low, the distribution of the cucumber beetle and the squash bug was different between periphery and center within a field. When population density was high, the cucumber and the squash bug seemed to be evenly distributed within a field. Temporal distribution of all arthropod pests appeared positively correlated with their spatial distribution. Our results provide information necessary for determining pest management strategies.
Species 1: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Acalymma vittatum (Striped cucumber beetle)
Species 2: Heteroptera Pentatomidae Anasa tristis (Squash bug)
Species 3: Acari Tetranychidae Tetranychus urticae (Twospotted Spider mite)
Keywords: Pests
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