At Planting and Foliar Insecticides to Control Cucumber Beetles in Fall Cucumbers, 1994

Abstract

Abstract Cucumbers were planted on 12 Aug at the Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Painter, VA. Each plot consisted of a 25 ft long row planted on 5 ft row spacing, replicated four times in a randomized, complete block design. An untreated guard row separated each plot. Furadan 4F was applied in furrow at planting using a single nozzle boom backpack sprayer. The Payload 15G in furrow at planting treatments were applied using a hand-held shaker. Foliar sprays were applied using a 3 hollow cone nozzle boom backpack sprayer delivering 45 gal water/acre at 40 psi. Foliar spray dates were 31 Aug and 6 and 13 Sep. On 31 Aug, the Furadan 4F at planting plots were less defoliated than the other plots and dead and dying cucumber beetles were observed. These plots were, therefore, not sprayed on this date. Dead and dying beetles were also observed in the Payload 15G plots on 31 Aug. These plots were treated with a low rate of Asana on this date, since actively feeding beetles were also observed. Evaluation criteria consisted of counts of both species of cucumber beetle on a randomly chosen 6 ft (30 sq ft) section of row in each plot and estimation of percent defoliation in each plot on the dates indicated in the table. The marketable fruit in each plot was harvested on 4, 11, and 20 Oct and the total yields for the season are indicated in the table.