Striped Cucumber Beetle Trap Update

Eric Burkness, Dept. of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.

A new trap and lure have recently been developed by Trece, Inc., Salinas CA, for detection of SCB. The trap consists of a small plastic top that fits over a plastic cup. A “stun pill” is placed inside the trap and contains small amount of Carbaryl to kill SCB. On the outside of the trap is a lure that attracts SCB to the trap. Preliminary trials conducted in 1999 indicate that the traps are useful for early detection and may show promise as a control option for small acreage plantings (<1 acre) to trap out a signifacant portion of the population. These traps may be useful in organic production systems where few options are currently available for control of SCB.

Currently, trials are underway to simulate trap use in a small acreage organic production system. On July 3, nine traps were placed in a half acre field of cucumbers, at cotyledon stage, in Apple Valley, Minn. Preliminary plant samples indicated an infestation level of 0.6 beetles/plant, which is at the treatment threshold of 0.5-1 beetle/plant. As of July 24, plant samples indicate that the infestation has dropped to 0.1 beetle/plant, with little to no sign of feeding damage on plant foliage and no insecticide treatment has been applied. Improvements to the trap design are still underway, and thus far have resulted in catches four times greater than the current design.

For more information on striped cucumber beetle, see the vol. 2 no. 5 issue of this newsletter at http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/mnvegnew/vol2/vol2no5.htm.

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, hutch002@tc.umn.edu
Jeanne Ciborowski, IPM Program, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us
Cindy Tong, Department of Horticulture, University of Minnesota, ctong@extension.umn.edu
Production Editor: Suzanne Wold, Research Specialist, University of Minnesota, woldx018@tc.umn.edu

Disclaimer
Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current directions of the manufacturer

Last Revised July 27, 2000.
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