The striped cucumber beetle is an important pest of cucurbits (melons, squash, cucumbers) that
can cause losses as high as 50% of the crop, especially in muskmelons and watermelons. In many
areas of the Midwest, cucurbits are planted on plastic mulch with trickle irrigation. Research
conducted in Vincennes, Indiana showed that nematodes can be applied through trickle irrigation
equipment, delivering the nematodes where they are needed, with no wasted material. Since this
beetle is a close relative of the corn rootworm, the nematodes that kill corn rootworm larvae
should be effective against striped cucumber beetle, too, although field trials were inconclusive
due to low levels of striped cucumber beetles during the testing. However, this method of
nematode distribution has great potential in controlling soil insects in irrigated vegetables.
Source: Reed, D. K., G. L. Reed, and C. S. Creighton. 1986. Introduction of entomogenous nematodes into trickle
irrigation systems to control striped cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 79:
1330-1333.
