aphids on the roots of squash
Black plastic is a good choice for northern areas, but in the extremely warm areas it can warm the soil too much. Organic mulches are good, too, but may provide shelter for pests like squash bugs. Foil mulches help prevent aphid problems. To prevent rot, support fruit on scraps of wood. Rotate crops so that no member of the cucurbit family (cucumbers, melons, and squash) is grown in the same place more often than every 4 years. In some situations ants tend aphids and feed on the honeydew aphids excrete. At the same time, ants protect the aphids from natural enemies. If you see ants crawling up aphid-infested trees or woody plants, put a band of sticky material (e.g., Tanglefoot) around the trunk to prevent ants from climbing up. Squash bug. The squash bug is usually the most consistent pest of pumpkins in the Midwest, and is relatively difficult to control. Consistent monitoring and early detection is the key to proper management. Adults become active in late April or early May. Adults are about five-eighths of an inch long and gray or black. Insect Management for Cucurbits (Cucumber, Squash, Cantaloupe, and Watermelon) Insects and mites can cause severe problems in the production of watermelon, squash, cucumber, and cantaloupe either through direct damage to the crop or through transmission of disease agents, such as the aphid-borne mosaic viruses. Common pests of cucurbits are described below. Many aphid species prefer the underside of leaves, so turn leaves over when checking for aphids. On trees, clip off leaves from several areas of the tree. Also check for evidence of natural enemies such as lady beetles, lacewings, syrphid fly larvae, and the mummified skins of parasitized aphids. Aphids may transmit viruses from plant to plant on certain vegetable and ornamental plants. Squash, cucumber, pumpkin, melon, bean, potato, lettuce, beet, chard, and bok choy are crops that often have aphid-transmitted viruses associated with them. The viruses mottle, yellow, or curl leaves and stunt plant growth. There are many types of worms that feed on plants, the fruit or leaves and buds of the plant. These worms include armyworm, beet armyworm, fall armyworm, melon worms, pickle worms, tomato hornworm, tomato pinworm, yellow striped armyworm and the corn ear worm, or the tomato fruit worm. Remove row cover when plants begin to flower so insects can pollinate the blossoms, or you will not get any fruit. Squash do best in well-drained, loose-textured soils with lots of organic matter. They will grow in soild with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8, but prefer a pH above 6.0. Sucking insects include aphids (“plant lice”), stink bugs, squash bugs, leafhoppers and spider mites. Spider mites are not insects but are just as damaging and numerous as are some insects. Sucking insects have an incomplete life cycle. After hatching from the egg, they may begin to feed and move about on the plant. Insects are a major limiting factor in commercial vegetable production. Minor insect damage lowers the crop’s value because the market demands clean, unblemished produce. Growers need to quickly recognize insect problems and practice early control to prevent a buildup and keep insect pests from getting out of control.
Foil mulches help prevent aphid problems. To prevent rot, support fruit on scraps of wood. Rotate crops so that no member of the cucurbit family is grown in the same place more often than every 4 years.