Trapping and Other Strategies for Cucumber Beetle Management

Spotted and striped cucumber beetles vector a bacterium that causes wilt in cucurbits (plants in the gourd family). These beetles are the major pest of muskmelons in Iowa. We investigated the success of a prototype Trecé brand trap and bait system, soon to be OMRI-approved (Organic Materials Review Institute), that chemically lures beetles to insecticide-treated bait inside a trap some distance away from the muskmelon crop. We also tested the success of Reemay fabric row covers, clear slitted plastic row covers, and BioYield seed treatment. BioYield is a seed inoculant that includes a variety of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.