Sweet alyssum floral strips and the effects observed on bees and pests in Ohio pumpkin crops

Pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo) host a distinct community of pests and natural enemies in Ohio. Our goal was to determine if a relationship exists between semi-natural habitat additions and crop performance by measuring biocontrol. To accomplish this we planted 2 x 200 ft rows of an annual, sweet alyssum (Lobularia maratima), adjacent to 4 x 200 ft rows of Gladiator pumpkin at 2 no-till farms, and allowed 10 more no-till farms only to grow pumpkins next to a mowed strip. At each site we placed the eggs of two pests, squash bug (Anasa tristis) and the spotted cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) and assessed predation and parasitism rates. In addition, we collected adults of A. tristis, A. vittatum and striped cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardii) and reared them in the lab until death to determine parasitism activity at each site. We collected natural enemy diversity and abundance data using pitfalls, yellow sticky cards and video cameras. From these data, we plan to calculate the ecological and economic costs and benefits of annual floral strip additions to cucurbit production.