Insect management for cucurbits cucumber, squash, cantaloupe. The plant may have 4 or 5 main stems from which the tendrils branch. Oils from the families lamiaceae mints, poaceae true grasses, and pinaceae pines are common haematophagous insect repellents worldwide. Adults are 58 inch long dark brown or gray with the edges of the abdomen having orange and brown stripes. Managing cucumber beetles if beetles are an annual problem, the best control is an application of a neonicotinoid insecticide to the soil at planting if no soil application of a neonicotinoid, can try a foliar application of assail other broadspectrum insecticides labeled for cucumber beetle control can be used if needed. Sudden cold snaps can kill the plants as well, so protecting cucumber plants is of paramount importance. Pumpkin, squash, cucumber, and melon pests vegetable. Muskmelons, watermelons, cucumber, squash, gourds, and pumpkins are cucurbits commonly grown in indiana. A list of cucurbit pests and diseases farmers weekly. Major insect pests include cucumber beetles, red pumpki n beetles, fruit ies, hadda beetles, squash bugs, aphids, white ies, squash vine borers, twospott ed spider mites, and nematodes. Cotyledons appear to remain toxic to beetles longer. The most common insect pests damaging michigan cucurbits include squash bugs, squash vine borers, striped cucumber beetles and spotted cucumber beetles. Northern territory nt, and are susceptible to many insect pests.
Foliagefeeding thrips also are beneficial at this time because they are effective predators. Insect scouting is needed to monitor insect populations and damage. In 5 10 days, the eggs hatch a maggot that burrows through the fruit. Cucumber, cucumis sativus, is a warm season, vining, annual plant in the family cucurbitaceae grown for its edible cucumber fruit. The essential oils of many plants are also well known for their pestrepellent properties. The pest caterpillars of cole crops in virginia pdf pdf caterpillars, or the larval stage of lepidoptera, are probably the most damaging of insect groups that feed on cole crops, such as collard, kale, cabbage. The squash bug, anasa tristis is one of the most common and severe pests of cucurbits, especially squash and pumpkins. Pests commonly found on cucumber insect identification lab. Beetles commence feeding on plants as soon as they emerge and either kill the plants or greatly. Cucumber diseases and pests, description, uses, propagation. Oils from the families lamiaceae mints, poaceae true grasses, and pinaceae pines are common. Management strategies may include cultural practices as well as the use of insecticides. Aphids bacterial wilt vectored by cucumber beetle cucumber beetle silverleaf whitefly spider mite squash bug horned squash b.
Mabin 2016 biological control of cucumber beetles oeffa, by molly d. These include cucumber moths, pumpkin beetles, twospotted mites and aphids. Cucumber beetle natural insect pest control harvest to table. Treat most vegetables with insecticides only when pest insects are observed. Reactivation of control from soil applications possible with rainfall following drought. For assisstance with insect identification and management in kentucky, bring questions and specimens directly to your local county extension office. Because of its value growers frequently apply pesticides regularly in order to protect their investment. Cotyledons appear to remain toxic to beetles longer than later new leaves. This often leads to development of insect resistance, environmental. Insect management written records of monitoring and the thresholds used as a basis of decisionmaking are maintained.
Pentatomidae pumpkin fruit fly, bactrocera curcubitae diptera. Table 1 categorizes vegetable crops as never or rarely, sometimes, and usually or always damaged by insects. This pest stings young fruit usually smaller than 10cm and lays eggs in a cluster under the peel. Honeydew is a source of food for a black fungus known as sooty mold and for ants. Insect pests can do damage wherever cucurbits are grown. Unfortunately, there are plenty of insect pests that might get to the cucumbers before you do or transmit diseases, rendering plants unable to produce. Planting nasturtiums alongside eggplant or squash plants can also help repel cucumber beetles. While the eastern shore is best known for watermelon and pickle production all cucurbits are grown throughout the state with. Insect pests of cucurbits major insect pests red pumpkin beetle. Insect pests of cucurbit crops in ohio cucumber beetles the striped cucumber beetle acalymma vittatum is the key pest of cucurbits and its control usually takes precedence over all other pests, especially in the seedling stage. Cucumber varieties, marketmore and hybrid f 1, were established from seed as a monocrop or intercropped with amaranth, and. The principals and practices of integrated pest management will become more important in the future.
These services are provided to kentuckians at no cost. Properly dispose of plant residues from the previous years garden. The spotted, striped and banded cucumber beetles are very harmful to cucurbits members of the gourd family, including. Put out bait consisting of dipterex, sugar and water when flowering starts. Your local office can also help you find and print. Insects that injure cucumber, melon, pumpkin and squash plants in connecticut w. It isnt just insects that cause cucumber plant damage. Nasturtiums as pest control planting nasturtiums for pest. While eggplant production in maryland is rather small, they are grown over the entire state to supply vegetable stands with many varieties. There are a number of practices that the home gardener can employ to. It isnt just insects that cause cucumber plant damage, however.
These crops, are attacked by a variety of insects and related pests, including aphids, cucumber beetles, seedcorn maggot, squash bug, squash vine borer, and twospotted spider mite. Put out bait consisting of dipterex, sugar and water when. Insect identification and diagnosis request for the identification of insects and mites, contact a local virginia cooperative extension office, or find information about offices in your state. Mabin 2016 managing cucumber beetles to reduce bacterial wilt in cucumbers 20. Britton cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and squashes, known as cucurbi taceous plants, are grown rather. Plants that can be planted or used fresh to repel pests include.
Insect pests of cucurbit crops in ohio cucumber beetles the striped cucumber beetle acalymma vittatum is the key pest of cucurbits and its control usually takes precedence over all other pests. Eggs are 116 inch long and are a yellowish brown to bronze color. Although there are a large variety of cucurbits most have a few very important pests in common such as cucumber beetles, squash bugs, mites and aphids. Cucumber beetle damage can occur on the watermelon fruit. Cucumber beetles are a major concern to muskmelon and cucumber growers because they vector the bacteria that causes a disease, bacterial wilt of cucurbits. Ultimately, the goal with an ipm program is to help stakeholders deal with pestsinsects, plant diseases, weeds, and morewith methods that reduce risks to public health and the. Cucumberthrips pacific northwest pest management handbooks. None of the following pests need routine control measures, but they do need to be regularly monitored and treated when the pest becomes a problem.
Managing cucumber beetles if beetles are an annual problem, the best control is an application of a neonicotinoid insecticide to the soil at planting if no soil application of a neonicotinoid, can try a foliar. In doing so, they excrete large amounts of sugary, sticky honeydew. Integrated pest management ipm serves as a framework to provide an effective, comprehensive, lowrisk approach to protect people and resources from pests. The importance of a particular insect will vary by region and by crop. Pdf important insect pests of cucurbits and their management. Cucurbit pest management cucurbits watermelon, summer and winter squash, cucumber, pumpkin, cantaloupe, etc. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The cucumber beetle is an oblong greenishyellow beetle with black spots or stripes on its wing covers.
Pumpkin insect management 2017 cucumber beetle management in organic squash and canteloupe 2016 molecular identification of cucumber beetle predators esa, by molly d. Consider the use of row covers to physically protect plants from insects, used early in the season, row covers can. Pest control and pollination services insecticides remain an important component of cucurbit production exposure of several pollinator guilds to agrochemicals are thought to reduce beneficial insect health. These pests can be managed by using sticky red sphere traps. Insect pests inflict damage to humans, farm animals and crops. Banded cucumber beetle diabrotica balteata figure 9 is more common in the southern part of the state, and the spotted cucumber beetle diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi figure 10 is more common in north florida. Cucumberspider mite pacific northwest pest management. Insect management for cucurbits cucumber, squash, cantaloupe, and watermelon 2 mouthparts into the plants vascular system and sucking out the plant sap. Regmi assistant professor department of entomology 2. Intercropping cucumber with amaranth amaranthus cruentus l.
Your local office can also help you find and print factsheets and other information. There are three species of cucumber beetles that attack cucurbits in florida. Pest control and pollination services insecticides remain an important component of cucurbit production exposure of several pollinator guilds to agrochemicals are thought to reduce beneficial insect health growers can adjust management to reduce exposure avoid applying to crops in bloom or blooming apply late in the dayevening. Integrated pest management takes time, planning and patience for it to be a successful. Yearround ipm program for cucurbits 911 seedlings cotyledons to 4 leaves vegetative growth. There are 3 major insect pests of pickling cucumbers.
At least three common cucurbit leaf beetles attack pumpkins in south. University of californias official guidelines for pest monitoring techniques, pesticides, and nonpesticide alternatives for managing pests in agriculture, floriculture. Cucumber beetles are a major concern to muskmelon and cucumber. A study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 to investigate the effectiveness of grain amaranth amaranthus cruentus l. Dec 16, 2016 this pest stings young fruit usually smaller than 10cm and lays eggs in a cluster under the peel. Common insect pests of cucurbits northern territory government. Chrysomelidae cucurbits stink bug, cordius janus hemiptera. Pest monitoring treatment is usually not necessary on seedlings, because most plants recover from thrips injury. The cucumber plant is a sprawling vine with large leaves and curling tendrils. Some insect pests are specific to cucurbits, but most are pests of other crops as well. When planted with cucumbers and tomatoes, nasturtiums may repel cucumber beetles, whiteflies, aphids and squash bugs. Depending on the structure of the ecosystem in a given area and mans view point, a certain insect might or might not be considered a pest. Insects that injure cucumber, melon, pumpkin and squash. Refreshingly crisp and juicy when the weather is hot and steamy.
Aphids, cucumber beetles, whiteflies, and thrips are some of the important insect pests of cucumber. The apple maggot is the most destructive pest of apples grown in home orchards. The spotted cucumber beetle diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi is similar to striped. The spotted, striped and banded cucumber beetles are very harmful to cucurbits members of the gourd family, including cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and squashes, particularly young plants. None of the following pests need routine control measures. Tetranychus spp pest description, crop damage and life history. Pest monitoring infestations usually begin on lower leaves of plants, then progress upwards. Refreshingly crisp and juicy when the weather is hot and steamy, they are a light, replenishing snack right off the vine. This insect is a type of fly that pierces the skin of ripening fruit and lays eggs. Striped and spotted cucumber beetles can cause serious losses in cucumbers, muskmelons, and watermelons in kentucky. Click on an image to view the full size photo with a detailed caption.
Cucumber beetles feed mainly on members of the cucurbit. Knowing something about common cucumber pests can help you prevent those pests and deal with. Aug 16, 2019 cucumber beetle damage can occur on the watermelon fruit. Click here to download a pdf version of this spotlight. Pests can wreak havoc on cucumber plants, reducing overall yield and possibly killing the plant itself. Cucumber beetles feed mainly on members of the cucurbit familycucumbers, melons, and squashesand also asparagus, early beans, corn, eggplant, peas, potatoes, and tomatoes. Cucurbit pest management university of maryland extension. Insect pests have been defined by williams 1947 as any insect in the wrong place. Foliagefeeding thrips also are beneficial at this time because they are effective predators on early year spider mite infestations. Insect pests of cucurbits major insect pests red pumpkin beetle, aulacophora foveicollis coleoptera.
1207 1041 196 746 159 840 178 1212 964 982 627 725 1 408 988 811 958 768 1000 288 1301 242 1203 181 432 525 453 808 1475 848