Integrated Pest Management in Cucurbits: Integrated Pest Management in Cucurbits:

Emphasizing Native PollinatorsEmphasizing Native Pollinators

Russell L. GrovesRussell L. Groves

Department of EntomologyDepartment of Entomology

537 Russell Laboratories537 Russell Laboratories

1630 Linden Drive1630 Linden Drive

Madison, WI 53706Madison, WI 53706

groves@entomology.wisc.edugroves@entomology.wisc.edu

November 12, 2009November 12, 2009

2009 Eco2009 Eco--Apple MeetingApple Meeting

National Vegetable Production AcresNational Vegetable Production Acres

(NASS 2002)(NASS 2002)

Wisconsin Vegetable Production StatisticsWisconsin Vegetable Production Statistics

(Wis. Ag. Stats. 2007)(Wis. Ag. Stats. 2007)

CropCrop Nat. RankNat. Rank AcresAcres % of U.S.% of U.S.$ Value $ Value

(millions)(millions)

Major cropsMajor crops

PotatoesPotatoes 44 64,50064,500 77 $209$209

Sweet corn (Proc)Sweet corn (Proc) 22 97,40097,400 2323 $51$51

Carrot (Proc)Carrot (Proc) 11 4,1004,100 2929 $5$5

Snap beansSnap beans 11 74,00074,000 3535 $31$31

PeasPeas 22 38,50038,500 2121 $19$19

Minor crops (vine crops)Minor crops (vine crops)

Cucumbers (pickles)Cucumbers (pickles) 44 6,1006,100 66 $9$9

Melon (cantaloupe) Melon (cantaloupe)

Melon (watermelon)Melon (watermelon)

Melon (honeydew)Melon (honeydew)

PumpkinsPumpkins

Squash (winter and summer)Squash (winter and summer)

SmallSmall--acreage fresh market production continues to acreage fresh market production continues to

expand. Anecdotal statistics estimate ca. 1,500 expand. Anecdotal statistics estimate ca. 1,500

smallsmall--acreage producers that grow over 50 crops acreage producers that grow over 50 crops

in Wisconsinin Wisconsin

Wisconsin Vegetable Pest ManagementWisconsin Vegetable Pest Management

Options for Insect Pest Management – More than ever

before!Transgenic plantsTransgenic plants

IR traitsIR traits

Baits andBaits and

baiting systemsbaiting systemsPopulationPopulation

disruptiondisruption

EntomopathogensEntomopathogens

NaturalNatural

enemiesenemies

Cultural controlsCultural controls

Host plantHost plant

resistanceresistance

ReducedReduced--Risk Risk

Chemical Insecticides Chemical Insecticides Vegetable Vegetable

IPMIPM

Provide educational opportunities to teach growers about new biointensive

IPM programs.

Provide the basis for research needs in the biointensive IPM arena.

Promote biointensive IPM practices to growers of vegetable cropping

systems.

Help provide and document changes in industry behavior due to the

implementation of biointensive IPM practices.

BioBio--IPM in Cucurbit CropsIPM in Cucurbit Crops

Cucurbit IPMCucurbit IPM

Current and Emerging Key Insect Pests :Current and Emerging Key Insect Pests :

** seed corn maggot** seed corn maggot

** squash bug** squash bug

** squash vine borer** squash vine borer

** spider mites** spider mites

Cucumber Beetles and PollinatorsCucumber Beetles and Pollinators

** new technologies and implications for conservation** new technologies and implications for conservation

Cucumber beetles: ManagementCucumber beetles: Management

CulturalCultural

–– Later plantingLater planting

–– Eliminate weeds, weedy edges Eliminate weeds, weedy edges

sanitation sanitation -- pollinatorspollinators

–– Row cover earlyRow cover early

–– TransplantsTransplants

–– Trap crops on plastic mulchesTrap crops on plastic mulches

BiologicalBiological

–– None effectiveNone effective

ChemicalChemical

–– Avoid flowering to protect bees (late afternoon sprays)Avoid flowering to protect bees (late afternoon sprays)

–– AtAt--plant systemic (nicotinyls), foliar insecticides plant systemic (nicotinyls), foliar insecticides

(pyrethroids, carbaryl), and new technologies (seed trt’s)(pyrethroids, carbaryl), and new technologies (seed trt’s)

Row cover and seed treatment experiments, Row cover and seed treatment experiments,

AAES 2008AAES 2008

Factors Harming Bee

Populations

Insecticides:Insecticides:-- Do not apply to crops in bloomDo not apply to crops in bloom

-- Application timing: apply in the late Application timing: apply in the late

afternoon or early eveningafternoon or early evening

-- Choose short residual productsChoose short residual products

-- Adjust spray to weather conditionsAdjust spray to weather conditions

** low temps extend residual** low temps extend residual

** protract foraging times** protract foraging times

-- Application formulation (s):Application formulation (s):

EC > WP, WSP, DEC > WP, WSP, D

Neonicotinyls

Broad spectrumBroad spectrum

Cucumber beetles, squash bugs, aphidsCucumber beetles, squash bugs, aphids

FlexibleFlexible

Furrow, drench, dripFurrow, drench, drip

Long residualLong residual

Rate dependantRate dependant

Low toxicityLow toxicity

Novel Pest Management Tools and

Delivery Systems

cucumber pumpkin squash

Anthrilic Diamides

Broad spectrumBroad spectrum

Lepidoptera (squash vine borer)Lepidoptera (squash vine borer)

Long ResidualLong Residual

Drench, dripDrench, drip

Low toxicityLow toxicity

Pollinators…Pollinators……and Devastators…and Devastators

Striped cucumber beetleStriped cucumber beetle

European honey beeEuropean honey bee

Insects Impact Cucurbit Production

Can we rely on honey bees to

pollinate cucurbit crops?

Can we rely on honey bees to

pollinate cucurbit crops?

•• To identify the most common native bee species that To identify the most common native bee species that visit and pollinate cucurbit flowersvisit and pollinate cucurbit flowers

•• Determine periods during season that dominant bee Determine periods during season that dominant bee species are most and least prevalentspecies are most and least prevalent

•• Document the extent of pollination services rendered Document the extent of pollination services rendered in selected fields relative to:in selected fields relative to:

1) field size1) field size

2) surrounding landscapes2) surrounding landscapes

Influence of Agricultural Practices

on Populations of Native Bees

•• To determine how different types of farming To determine how different types of farming

practices and pest management practices practices and pest management practices

affect populations of the most common affect populations of the most common

native bee speciesnative bee species

–– Cultivation and tillage programsCultivation and tillage programs

–– Field sanitation practicesField sanitation practices

–– Crop protectionCrop protection

“Develop and Test Pollinator Habitat Job Sheets “Develop and Test Pollinator Habitat Job Sheets

for Six Regions of the US”for Six Regions of the US”

The purpose is to develop regionallyThe purpose is to develop regionally--appropriate, appropriate,

general and crop specific formulas for creating general and crop specific formulas for creating

pollinator habitat on working lands.pollinator habitat on working lands.

Bill HalfmanBill Halfman Joe KauffmanJoe Kauffman

Tim RehbeinTim Rehbein Jerry SchneiderJerry Schneider

Ted BayTed Bay Lisa RinikerLisa Riniker

Keith Van der VeldeKeith Van der Velde Crist HershbergerCrist Hershberger

Melvin YoderMelvin Yoder

Mike and David WarzynskiMike and David Warzynski Brian NelsonBrian Nelson

Heidi HeathHeidi Heath Grant MoseleyGrant Moseley

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements