Cucurbits, particularly watermelon, are important crops in the South Central Region of the U. S. with a value of over $100 million. Squash bug is a key insect pest of watermelon and other cucurbit crops in the Southern Plains area. In addition to feeding damage, it has also been identified as a vector of CYVD which has proved devastating to the industry in some years. Cucumber beetles, though secondary as cucurbit pests, reduce or destroy stands and can vector cucurbit bacterial wilt and certain virus diseases to susceptible cucurbit crops. Present control requires multiple applications of insecticides. In many cases, once effective pesticides have been removed from use or target insects have developed resistance. Behavioral manipulation of key pests through planting of more preferred hosts such as squash in watermelon can serve as an effective alternative strategy for squash bug and the cucumber beetle complex. Results of such efforts in Texas and Oklahoma are discussed.
Species 1: Heteroptera Coreidae Anasa tristis (Squash bug)
Species 2: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Acalymma vittatum (striped cucumber beetle)
Keywords: Intercropping, behavioral manipulation
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