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Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles
- From: "Bill Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT inil.com>
- To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles
- Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 09:26:44 -0500
I too thought Rivka gave an excellent post, and
agree with it. I'd like to add that what may have been a a balance between
striped cucumber beetles (a native insect) and squash/pumpkins (native plants)
has been disrupted by several things. First, we grow those crops in areas where
the "pest"/plant relationship never existed before the natives peoples of North
Amerca began moving the plants (as crops) eastward from the western parts
of the continent. The beetle followed. Then Europeans brought other non-native
cucurbits, like cucumbers, cantaloupes and watermelons, which had no natural
relationship with the beetle and were susceptible to the bacteria which the
beetle carries and which causes bacterial wilt of cucurbits. Then, as
populations grew and agriculture became mechanized, these crops were grown in
large monoculture systems which allowed the populations of the beetle to expand
rapidly. The economics of large monoculture systems are intolerant of even minor
losses, which means growers using those systems need control tools which are
fast, efficient, effective and inexpensive (relatively). The idea of putting
this system back into balance must account for these changes somehow. I don't
think we can expect large-scale balance to occur without recognizing that the
sheer size of population that agriculture supports drives this problem.
Bill Shoemaker, Sr Research Specialist, Food
Crops
University of Illinois - St Charles Horticulture Research Center www.nres.uiuc.edu/faculty/directory/shoemaker_wh.html From what I have read...and have been learning..when the soil is at it's peak or pretty darn good happy, there are less bugs to be had. Ruth Stout said it, Elliot Colmen has said it and I am willing to be that any other totally organic gardner would agree. It all has to do with micronutrietnts and soil levels that hinder or "bring on" the bad bugs. Just like with weeds in your soil, they tell you what is good and what is bad with your soil. Amending your soil, in my opionin, is the first and best organic way you can "creat" a happy environment for all. It takes time, patience and some money, but the end result is what we are all looking for. |
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Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles
, (continued)
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
, 05/30/2006
- Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles, Bill Bradshaw, 05/30/2006
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
, 05/30/2006
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
Andrew R. King, 05/31/2006
- Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles, Glenda, 05/31/2006
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
Pat Meadows, 05/31/2006
- Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles, Jill Bussiere, 05/31/2006
- Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles, TxBeeFarmer, 05/31/2006
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
road's end farm, 05/31/2006
- Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles, Jill Bussiere, 05/31/2006
- Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles, Bill Shoemaker, 05/31/2006
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
Andrew R. King, 05/31/2006
-
Re: [Market-farming] Yellow striped cucumber beetles,
, 05/30/2006
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