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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Cucumber Beetles on Tomato Fruit?

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  • From: "William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>
  • To: "'Market Farming'" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Cucumber Beetles on Tomato Fruit?
  • Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:22:29 -0500

That reminds me of buffalo gourd, a plant that is very high in
cucurbitacean. This compound is a powerful attractant for cuke beetles. It
may be more attractive to striped than spotted, though I suspect Friday
night carousers aren't that particular. Has anyone tried using this plant to
attract and trap (or annihilate) these beetles?

Bill
William H. Shoemaker
Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops
University of Illinois - Crop Sciences
St Charles Horticulture Research Center
535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174
630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610
wshoemak AT illinois.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Steve Diver
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:15 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Cucumber Beetles on Tomato Fruit?

Dr. Ron Prokopy, the late entomologist from Massachusetts who
pioneered organic and
IPM approaches in fruit production, cajoled growers to "project their
consciousness"
into the minds of insects and fungal pathogens...... to understand the
weak link in their
life cycles.... so new and better pest management practices can be
effectively employed.

Spotted cuke beetles are polyphagous. They like Chinese, Mexican,
Italian, and Chez
Panisse.... and they are curious, I think.

Monophagous striped cuke beetles are intent on cucurbits only, real
scholars
of a good squash.

But not the spotted -- they are like college kids checking out the scene
on a Friday night.

Sniffing around, licking and tasting.

But they can be enticed to preferentially feed on squash plants.

They are very sensitive to pheromonal attractants...... where you can focus
your control efforts.... and likewise trip up this curious wandering.

Steve Diver


On 8/18/2010 9:13 AM, John Chambers wrote:
> We have a bad case of spotted cucumber beetles on our tomato fruits
> this year. Probably less than 25% of the fruit is salable. Anyone ever
> had similar problems?
>
> Too late for this season, but in advance of next season, do you have
> any ideas for organic controls other than hand-picking and squashing?
>
>
> John
> Ridgeview Farm
> Shelbyville, IL

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