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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Charleston, South Carolina » Vegetable Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419986
Research Project: Basic and Applied Approaches for Pest Management in Vegetable Crops

Location: Vegetable Research

Title: Insect abundance and richness in squash agroecosystems of Georgia, United States: the role of cultivar selection and weather conditions

Author
item WARSI, SANOWER - Fort Valley State University
item LI, YINPING - Fort Valley State University
item MBATA, GEORGE - Fort Valley State University
item Simmons, Alvin

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2025
Publication Date: 6/8/2025
Citation: Warsi, S., Li, Y., Mbata, G., Simmons, A.M. 2025. Insect abundance and richness in squash agroecosystems of Georgia, United States: the role of cultivar selection and weather conditions. Agronomy. 15(6):1411 Article. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061411.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15061411

Interpretive Summary: The population levels of insect pests, natural enemies, and pollinators were investigated on 20 squash cultivars across multiple seasons in the southeastern United States. Different cultivars harbored different populations levels of bees and predatory insects, and pests including whiteflies, cucumber beetles, squash beetles, squash bugs, melonwoms, pickleworms, and thrips. Climatic factors like temperature, humidity, and rainfall and season were related to the abundance of the insects. Findings from this study can help agricultural practitioners in optimizing pest management in squash crops.

Technical Abstract: The present study investigated the population dynamics of insect pests and beneficial insects on 20 squash cultivars across three seasons in southern Georgia, USA. Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) were prevalent in all seasons. In summer 2021, the cultivars ‘Black Beauty’ and 'Fordhook Zucchini' harbored the highest populations of adult whiteflies and banded cucumber beetles (Diabrotica balteata LeConte), respectively. Populations of thrips spp. and striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum F.) peaked in week 5; melonworms (Diaphania hyalinata L.) in week 3; and banded cucumber beetles in week 6. In fall 2021, ‘Early Summer’ and ‘Amberpic 8455’ harbored the most whitefly. Squash beetles (Epilachna borealis F.) and melonworms peaked in week 1, pickleworms (Diaphania nitidalis Stoll) in week 3, and spotted cucumber beetles in week 6. In fall 2022, the 'Golden Goose Hybrid' had the fewest whitefly. Banded cucumber beetles, spotted cucumber beetles (Diabrotica undecimpunctata Howardi) and squash bugs (Anasa tristis DeGeer) peaked in weeks 1, 3, and 5, respectively. Orius spp. showed significant increases in late season, notably on 'Amberpic 8455' and 'Saffron’. Bees were more abundant early in summer 2021 but declined later. In fall 2021, moths peaked in weeks 3, bees in week 5 and wasps in both weeks. 'Golden Goose Hybrid' supported a high moth population. Temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with striped cucumber beetle and squash beetle numbers. Notably, rainfall negatively affected the bee population. These findings underscore the importance of cultivar selection and climatic considerations in integrated pest management strategies for squash production.