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Developing Integrated Pest Management Tactics for Squash Vine Borer

McFarland, Michael C
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu148367777901955

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Entomology.
Squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae; Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is a serious insect pest of squash and pumpkins in the United States and can cause 100% crop loss in gardens and 25% crop loss in commercial crops. The pest can be controlled by frequent applications of insecticide, but growers are seeking control tactics that are more sustainable. Several chemical and non-chemical tactics for managing M. cucurbitae were evaluated for this project. A field trial was conducted three times to test the use of unharvested zucchini as a trap crop for a cash crop of zucchini. Three factors were compared at each at two levels: harvest status, planting time, and row covers. The infestation rate of M. cucurbitae in earlier plantings was significantly higher than in late plantings. Unharvested plants and row covers had inconsistent effects; infestation was higher in unharvested plants than harvested plants in two of three trials, and infestation was higher in plants started under row covers than no covers in two of three trials. Earlier planted zucchini had higher yields than late plantings, while row covers had no influence on yield. A field trial was conducted in each of two years to test the effect of delayed planting time and row covers on infestation of M. cucurbitae at a garden scale. All of the garden sites had early and late plantings of zucchini, and half of the gardens used row covers. In both years, zucchini planted earlier had higher infestation rates compared to later plantings, but the differences were statistically significant in only one year. Zucchini without row covers had higher infestation rates but the differences were not significant either year. Earlier plantings had higher yields than later plantings. A field trial on chemical control of M. cucurbitae on zucchini evaluated the efficacy of three insecticides applied at various frequencies, in each of two years. Insecticide applications began after M. cucurbitae adults were consistently caught in a pheromone trap near the field. In both years, the differences among treatments were not significant for either infestation rate or yield. A laboratory experiment tested the influence of insecticides commonly used for control of M. cucurbitae on two beneficial natural predators: the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and the insidious flower bug, Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Predators were exposed to five common garden insecticides indirectly by enclosure on leaves with fresh residues. Mortality was recorded after 24 and 48 hours. Acetamiprid caused significantly higher mortality than the water control for both H. axyridis and O. insidiosus. Permethrin caused significantly higher mortality compared to the water control for H. axyridis. Spinosad did not cause significantly higher mortality compared to the water control for both H. axyridis and O. insidious. Planting earlier, using row covers, and leaving the zucchini unharvested could be the key components for a trap crop to draw M. cucurbitae away from a zucchini cash crop. Delaying planting by four weeks reduces the infestation rates of M. cucurbitae but also reduces the yields of the zucchini.
Celeste Welty (Advisor)
Reed Johnson (Committee Member)
Matt Kleinhenz (Committee Member)
92 p.
Entomology
squash vine borer; zucchini; bioassay; IPM; garden; trap crop; row cover; squash; entomology; integrated pest management; insecticides; bioassay; chemical

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McFarland, M. C. (2017). Developing Integrated Pest Management Tactics for Squash Vine Borer [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu148367777901955

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McFarland, Michael. Developing Integrated Pest Management Tactics for Squash Vine Borer. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu148367777901955.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McFarland, Michael. "Developing Integrated Pest Management Tactics for Squash Vine Borer." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu148367777901955

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu148367777901955
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.