| Striped cucumber beetles, Accalymma vittatum F. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), are major pests of cucumber production in the North Eastern United States. The use of perimeter trap crops is an important striped cucumber beetle management tactic that has been used successfully in conventional cucumber production when insecticides are applied to the trap crop but has been less successfully applied in organic pest management. I assessed the potential of four winter squash varieties: blue hubbard ( Cucurbita maxima Duchesne), burgess buttercup (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne), waltham butternut (Cucurbita. moschata Duchesne), table queen acorn (Cucurbita moschata Bailey) to be used as trap crops under green house and field conditions. Results showed burgess buttercup and blue hubbard are the most attractive varieties. Burgess buttercup has an advantage under low beetle population because of its good marketability. I also assessed the potential of the trap crop combination, blue hubbard (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) with waltham butternut (Cucurbita moschata Poir), compared to each cultivar alone. Furthermore, I assessed the potential of PyganicRTM (an OMRI approved insecticide) and insect vacuums to control cucumber beetles on trap crops. Results showed that blue hubbard combined with waltham butternut were as efficient as blue hubbard alone in attracting beetles. The experiments also demonstrated the importance of flowers in the attractiveness of the trap crops. |
