Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Price Hall, 170 Drillfield Drive, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
USDA-ARS Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, BARC-West Building 007, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, USA.
J Econ Entomol. 2022 Jun 8;115(3):808-813. doi: 10.1093/jee/toac036.
The squash bug, Anasa tristis (De Geer), is a serious pest of cucurbit crops across the United States, especially within summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) systems. Using their piercing sucking mouthparts, squash bugs feed on both leaf tissue and fruits, often leading to leaf necrosis, marketable fruit loss, and even plant death. To date, the relationship between squash bug presence and plasticulture has not been adequately investigated. This 2-yr study evaluated the effects of white, black, and reflective plastic mulch colors on the occurrence of all squash bug life stages and marketable zucchini yield in Virginia. In both years, A. tristis adults and egg masses were more numerous on zucchini plants grown in white and reflective plastic mulch compared to bare ground plants. Greater nymphal densities and marketable fruit yield were observed in certain plastic mulch treatments versus the bare ground treatment, yet these differences were not consistent in both years. Contrary to the repellency effects reflective mulches have on other cucurbit insect pests, our research suggests that reflective and other plastic mulch colors can negatively impact squash bug management, especially in regions with high A. tristis pressure. Our study offers new insights for cucurbit growers to use when considering whether they should implement plasticulture in their growing systems.
南瓜实蝇，Anasa tristis（De Geer），是一种严重的葫芦科作物害虫，遍布美国，尤其是在夏南瓜（Cucurbita pepo L.）系统中。南瓜实蝇使用其刺穿式的吸口器，既吸食叶片组织又吸食果实，通常会导致叶片坏死、商品果损失，甚至植株死亡。迄今为止，南瓜实蝇与塑料栽培的关系尚未得到充分研究。这项为期 2 年的研究评估了白色、黑色和反光塑料地膜颜色对弗吉尼亚州所有南瓜实蝇各生活阶段和商品南瓜产量的影响。在两年中，与裸地植株相比，在白色和反光塑料地膜上种植的南瓜上的南瓜实蝇成虫和卵块数量更多。在某些塑料地膜处理中观察到若虫密度和商品果产量更高，而与裸地处理相比，这些差异在两年中并不一致。与反光地膜对其他葫芦科害虫的驱避作用相反，我们的研究表明，反光和其他塑料地膜颜色可能会对南瓜实蝇管理产生负面影响，尤其是在南瓜实蝇压力较高的地区。我们的研究为瓜类种植者在考虑是否在其种植系统中采用塑料栽培时提供了新的见解。
