Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174130
Title: TRAP MONITORING SQUASH VINE BORERS IN CUCURBITS

Author
item Jackson, D
item CANHILAL, R - CUKUROVA UNIVERSITY
item CARNER, G - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2005
Publication Date: 1/5/2005
Citation: Jackson, D.M., Canhilal, R., Carner, G.R. 2005. Trap monitoring squash vine borers in cucurbits. Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology. 22:27-39.

Interpretive Summary: The squash vine borer is an important pest of squash and pumpkins in home gardens and commercial cucurbit fields. Populations of this pest were monitored using pheromone baited traps in South Caroloina from 1997-2004. Male moths were first captured in mid-May and they remained active for the next 4-5 months (mid-October). There are two widely overlapping generations of squash vine borers per year in South Carolina. Nine types of pheromone baited traps were evaluated, and a commercially available small wire-mesh trap was the most effective for capturing male squash vine borer moths. A larger wire-mesh trap and a commercially available collapsible nylon trap were the second and third most effective traps. A yellow and white universal moth trap also caught a significant number of moths. A Multipher 3 trap, Pherocon 1C sticky trap, Japanese beetle trap, and boll weevil trap were not effective for capturing male squash vine borer moths. Wire-cone traps are a marked improvement over sticky traps, which are commonly recommended for monitoring this pest.

Technical Abstract: Populations of the squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), were monitored using pheromone baited traps in cucurbit fields at Clemson University, Clemson, SC, and at the U. S. Vegetable Laboratory (USVL), Charleston, SC, from 1997-2004. Male squash vine borer moths were first captured from mid-May to early June at both locations. Adults were captured for the next 4-5 months until mid-September at Clemson, and until late September to mid October at the USVL. There appears to be two widely overlapping generations of squash vine borers per year in South Carolina. Nine types of pheromone baited traps were tested at the USVL, 2003-2004. A commercially available (Gemplers), small wire mesh Heliothis trap was the most effective trap for capturing male squash vine borer moths. A large (50-75 cm) Heliothis trap (Harstack trap) and a commercially available (Great Lakes IPM) collapsible nylon Heliothis trap were the second and third most effective traps. The yellow and white universal moth trap (Great Lakes IPM) also caught a significant number of male squash vine borer moths. The Multipher 3 trap, Pherocon 1C sticky trap, Japanese beetle trap, and boll weevil trap were not effective for monitoring male squash vine borer moths.