A Trap Crop + Insecticide Approach for Cucumber Beetle
Management Spotted and striped cucumber beetles not only cause
feeding damage in Iowa cucurbit crops, but also transmit a
bacterium that causes bacterial wilt. Turks Turban (2003) or
'Black Beauty' zucchini (2004) was used alone and in combination
with insecticides as a trap crop for these pests in muskmelon.
We hypothesized that the beetles would preferentially feed on
highly attractive trap crop rows interspersed among the melon
crop. Insecticide applications to these rows should more
effective than applications to the entire field, and may be
sufficient for control in the entire field. Materials and
Methods - At Iowa State University Horticulture Farm (Gilbert,
IA) and Muscatine Island Research Station (Fruitland, IA), three
small fields of 'Athena' muskmelons were established at least
1000 feet from one another to evaluate the efficacy of a trap
crop alone and in combination with an insecticide. - In two of
the fields, a row of trap crop was establish