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Managing Cucurbit Insect Pests with Trap Cropping

Learn how to effectively manage cucurbit insect pests using trap cropping techniques. Discover cultural controls, such as host plant resistance and crop rotation, that can reduce pest numbers. Explore the use of trap crops, cover crops, and other methods to protect your cash crops from pests. Real-life on-farm research proves the effectiveness of this approach.

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Managing Cucurbit Insect Pests with Trap Cropping

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  1. Managing cucurbit insect pests using trap cropping Jaime Piñero Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO 65102 Tel: (573) 681-5522 pineroj@lincolnu.edu

  2. Cultural Controls • Host plant resistance • Crop rotation • Soil quality management • Sanitation • Trap cropping • Farmscaping/habitat manipulation • Cover crops • Use of mulches • Intercropping • Alter planting/harvest dates

  3. Blue Hubbard squash: An excellent trap crop Striped cucumber beetle Spotted cucumber beetle Very attractive to adult cucumber beetles Not susceptible to bacterial wilt Blue Hubbard squash Squash Bug Squash Vine Borer Picture: http://bugguide.net

  4. 2013 – 2014 Approach: • Trap Crop plants located at the row ends • 8 trap crops per row protected 70 Zephyr squash plants (cash crop)

  5. Lincoln University George Washington Carver Farm • Functions by concentrating and killing the pest in the border area, while reducing pest numbers on the unsprayed cash crop • Plant species or cultivar used needs to be more attractive to pest than crop is Cash crop (unsprayed) Perimeter trap crop (Blue Hubbard squash) = 20% (usually sprayed)

  6. Integrating trap cropping with cover crops for weed suppression and enhanced pollination Zucchini cash crop with Blue Hubbard as trap crop at row ends Buckwheat cover crop to suppress weeds and enhance pollinators Sorghum/sudan grass for weed suppression

  7. 2012-2014: Overall results • Red Kuri Hubbard: • Performed equally well, or better than, Blue Hubbard and Buttercup squash • Most insect pests (squash bugs, spotted and stripped cucumber beetles) were found in trap crop plants • CASH CROPS • NOT SPRAYED

  8. On-farm research

  9. “I became convinced that trap cropping is effective, very simple, and cheap” Jose Fonseca (Home-Grown Produce, St. Charles, MO) • Jose Fonseca has fully adopted the trap cropping approach for four years in a row (2011-2014) • He has not applied any insecticide to his cucurbits since 2012 (had a 90% reduction in 2011) Phone call made on 10.30.13 “It worked great in 2013; proof that it works is that in one section of the farm I forgot to plant Blue Hubbard squash and squash bugs killed all my plants”

  10. On-farm research

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