Comparison of Insecticide Use Programs for Managing the Striped Cucumber Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Muskmelon

Abstract

A scheduled, weekly spray program was compared with a program that determined the need for treatment based on sampling (threshold) and an untreated control for management of the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymnul vittatum (F.), a vector of the pathogen that causes bacterial wilt in muskmelon. Treatments were compared at 2 locations during 2 )T for t1wir effects on prevention of bacterial wilt, melon yield, and net income. Insecticides \\'ere applied in the tlueshold treatment whenever beetle populations reached or exceeded a threshold of 0.5 beetle per plant before melon fruit appeared, and 1 beetle per plant when fruit set. Yil'lds in the tlueshold treatment were equal to or better than the schedule treatment at 3 of the 4 shldy sites. The threshold treatment generated higher net income than the other treatn1l'nts. In addition to economic considerations, the use of fewer insecticide sprays for striped cucumber beetle management is favorable for protecting natural enemies, insect pollinators, tmd prolonging the usefulness of a limited number of insecticides registered for use on lllusknwlon by reducing selection for resistance.