Control of adult striped cucumber beetle with a natural enemy parasitoid and an insect parasitic nematode

Control of adult striped cucumber beetle with a natural enemy parasitoid and an insect parasitic nematode

Summary

Ohio pumpkin growers must tolerate high damage and yield loss from striped cucumber beetle unless pest management tactics are used. The immediate outcome of this project is information on effectiveness of two biological control methods: inundative applications of beneficial nematodes and the enhancement of a naturally occurring fly parasitoid. Field experiments were necessary for developing these recommendations. Pumpkins were the test crop for this research, but results are applicable to cucurbits in general. Now that the experimental results have been determined, recommendations are being made and educational materials produced about the use of sustainable pest control methods for striped cucumber beetle.

Objectives/Performance Targets

The objectives of this project were to evaluate methods of biological control for striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum, in pumpkins. The initial collaborative objective was to assess the potential of adoption of biological control practices by pumpkin farmers, which was determined by a questionnaire survey. The research objective was to conduct experiments on the efficacy of applying and enhancing biological control organisms in the field. Output objectives were to: report research findings at agricultural field days and growers organizations, publish research results in Master of Science thesis and scientific journals, and develop a fact sheet on the natural enemies of striped cucumber beetle for use by entomology extension. The overall educational objective of this project was to inform farmers of the presence of natural enemies in their pumpkin crops and to report research results that could lead to a sustainable pest control method for striped cucumber beetle.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Master’s of Science thesis was completed and accepted by the Department of Entomology, Ohio State University in the spring of 2005. Scientific publications are in the process of being edited and submitted for publication in a scientific journal.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Online reports of this project have resulted in interest from researchers in other parts of the country. Results from the experiments in this project demonstrated the potential for biological suppression to be used in cucurbits, specifically for the suppression of adult striped cucumber beetle. Educational materials about natural enemies for pumpkin pests will be available to growers through an extension fact sheet.

Collaborators: