Evaluation of Systemically Treated Squash Trap Plants and Attracticidal Baits for Early-Season Control of Striped and Spotted Cucumber Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Squash Bug (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in Cucurbit Crops

In 1992, sentinel squash plants treated with carbofuran successfully attracted and killed squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), and cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.), emerging from overwintering at 5 locations in Atoka County, Oklahoma. In 1993, responses of cucumber beetle and squash bug to carbofuran-treated squash trap plants and to Adios or Adios-AG attracticidal baits were compared in <1.0-ha plots of seedling cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon at Lane, OK. Regardless of crop, cucumber beetles and squash bug populations were highly attracted to 'Lemondrop' squash trap plants that amounted to <1% of the total crop area. Squash trap-plants attracted an estimated 39.7, 32.4, and 66.3% of the cucumber beetle population, respectively, observed in fields of cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon seedlings. In cantaloupe and watermelon, squash trap-plants attracted >90% of the estimated squash bug population but were less effective in squash. In all cases, squash trap plants treated with carbofuran killed >90 and 16-37%, respectively, of the cucumber beetles and squash bugs found on the plants. Single applications of attracticidal baits provided up to 70% cucumber beetle mortality for 3-5-d post treatment. Studies conducted in 1994 showed that significantly greater numbers of cucumber beetles, primarily Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardii Barber, were attracted to 'Blue Hubbard' than Lemondrop squash trap plants that were treated with systemic insecticides, carbofuran at 0.15 g (AI) or imidacloprid at 0.04 g (AI), and positioned in a field of watermelon. Imidacloprid was as effective as carbofuran, each provided >90% cucumber beetle mortality. In this study, an estimated 46.7% of the total cucumber beetle population was attracted to the squash trap plants. Results from these studies suggest that minimal plantings of systemically treated squash can be used effectively to suppress early season populations of cucumber beetle and squash bug in seedling cantaloupe, squash, and watermelon.