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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264658
Title: Cantaloupe Insects: Ecology and Control

Author
item Castle, Steven
item PALUMBO, JOHN - University Of Arizona

Submitted to: Encyclopedia of Pest Management
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2011
Publication Date: 10/21/2011
Citation: Castle, S.J., Palumbo, J.C. 2011. Cantaloupe Insects: Ecology and Control. Encyclopedia of Pest Management. 10.1081/E-EPM.

Interpretive Summary: Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family that includes squash, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin and gourds along with many wild species. Numerous varieties of cantaloupe are grown in temperate and tropical zones across the globe and depend on honeybees for pollination and higher fruit yields. Cantaloupes face an assortment of insect and mite pests during all stages of plant growth. They are also vulnerable to various insect-vectored pathogens that can cause debilitating diseases when transmitted to a young plant. Row covers and plastic mulches have been used to protect cantaloupe from vector species and other insect pests, but insecticides are the predominant method of insect control. Commercialization of highly selective insecticides in recent years has enabled more specific targeting of various pests and has contributed to better integration of biological and chemical controls

Technical Abstract: Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L.) is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family that includes squash, cucumber, watermelon, pumpkin and gourds along with many wild species. Numerous varieties of cantaloupe are grown in temperate and tropical zones across the globe and depend on honeybees for pollination and higher fruit yields. Cantaloupes face an assortment of insect and mite pests during all stages of plant growth. They are also vulnerable to various insect-vectored pathogens that can cause debilitating diseases when transmitted to a young plant. Row covers and plastic mulches have been used to protect cantaloupe from vector species and other insect pests, but insecticides are the predominant method of insect control. Commercialization of highly selective insecticides in recent years has enabled more specific targeting of various pests and has contributed to better integration of biological and chemical controls