The striped cucumber beetle (SCB) is a serious pest of cucurbit crops, causing damage both by feeding on plants and by vectoring plant diseases. Cultural, biological and chemical methods are currently used for its management, however, RNA interference (RNAi) as a potential control strategy, has not yet been evaluated. Injecting dsRNA into the hemocoel of adult SCB resulted in significant gene knockdown and mortality for all seven genes tested (v-ATPaseA, rpt3, rop, α-snap, srp54k, β-actin and α-tubulin). However, oral delivery of the three dsRNAs found to be most lethal using injections, targeting β-actin, α-snap and rpt3, led to less efficient gene knockdown and mortality than injections. In silico analysis of the SCB transcriptome revealed the presence of five dsRNA-degrading nucleases, of which dsRNase5 had the highest expression in the gut. However, double knockdown of dsRNase5 and the rpt3 gene did not improve oral RNAi. Comparing dsRNA stability in digestive fluid and hemolymph of SCB and Colorado potato beetle (CPB) revealed differences in dsRNA-degrading nuclease activity. Furthermore, oral RNAi of the β-actin gene in CPB adults resulted in 100% mortality, whereas mortality was only 33.3% in SCB. Although SCB has a robust RNAi response to injected dsRNA, oral RNAi works less efficiently. Knockdown of the most highly expressed dsRNase gene in the SCB gut did not enhance oral RNAi. This suggests nucleases may not be the main reason for the reduced oral RNAi efficiency in SCB and other factors are likely to be involved. © 2025 His Majesty the King in Right of Canada. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

BACKGROUNDBroad‐spectrum insecticides are extensively used to control pests and secure crop yields. However, insecticides may have unintended effects on natural enemies (e.g., predators and parasitoid wasps) and secondary pests. Cover crops can also be used as part of integrated pest management (IPM) programs to protect natural enemies and avoid secondary pest outbreaks. Yet, some pests can use cover crops as green bridges to colonize the crop. We explored the use of rye in commercial watermelon fields, with three intensity levels employed by growers: (i) no rye, (ii) 1:3 rye‐watermelon ratio and (iii) 1:1 rye‐watermelon ratio. Then, we tested the combined effects of insecticide programs (conventional vs. threshold‐based recommendations) and rye use (present vs. absent) at three research farms over 2 years.RESULTSIn both the on‐farm survey and research‐plot trial, rye weakly affected arthropods, with no impacts on cucumber beetles or natural enemies and marginally positive and negative effects on spider mites and melon aphids, respectively. In contrast, conventional insecticide programs in the research‐plot trial effectively controlled the main watermelon pest (striped cucumber beetle) but triggered 45.5 and 21.2% population increases in spider mite and melon aphid, respectively, while natural enemies decreased by 82.3% compared to threshold recommendations. Watermelon yield and quality were generally unaffected by treatments.CONCLUSIONWe show that insecticide practices are more relevant in shaping arthropod dynamics than cover crops in watermelon. Our study highlights the importance of IPM to protect natural enemies, prevent pest outbreaks, minimize costs on unnecessary insecticide applications and enhance sustainable agriculture. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Interactions between parasitoids and herbivore hosts are complex as parasitism affects multiple components of host behavior and fitness through both consumptive and non-consumptive effects. Understanding how these multiple effects unfold is especially important in applied systems where parasitoids play a role in biological control. In lab-based experiments, we manipulated parasitism in striped cucumber beetles, Acalymma vittatum (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a major pest of cucurbits in North America, using Celatoria setosa (Diptera: Tachinidae) to assess how parasitism affected multiple components of male and female fitness, including survival, herbivory, oviposition, and reproductive signaling through the emission of vittatalactone, a male-specific aggregation pheromone. In follow-up experiments, we investigated the potential non-consumptive effects of parasitoids on these metrics by exposing beetles to arenas with or without parasitoids. Parasitized female beetles experienced a 4-fold increase in mortality, consumed 49.6% less leaf tissue, and were less likely to oviposit eggs compared to non-parasitized control females. In addition, parasitized males in small groups emitted 52.5% less vittatalactone than non-parasitized control males. Lastly, we found some evidence of non-consumptive effects of parasitoids in which individual females and groups of males, exposure to parasitoids resulted in reduced foliar damage. Our findings highlight broad effects of tachinid parasitoids in a common pest and point to multiple mechanisms for reduced pest performance.

This study investigated the abundance and richness of insect pests and beneficial insects on 20 squash cultivars across three seasons in southern Georgia, U.S. Insects were sampled using yellow sticky cards, pan traps and sweep nets. Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (sweet potato whitefly) was prevalent in all seasons, while other key pests showed distinct seasonal peaks. Diaphania hyalinata Linnaeus (melonworm) peaked mid-July in summer 2021 (21 June–1 August), while Thysanoptera species, Acalymma vittatum Fabricius (striped cucumber beetle), and Diabrotica balteata LeConte (banded cucumber beetle) peaked late July-early August. In fall 2021 (4 October–14 November), Epilachna borealis (squash beetle), D. hyalinata, and D. nitidalis Stoll (pickleworm) were more active in early to mid-October, whereas D. undecimpunctata howardi Barber (spotted cucumber beetle) peaked in late November. In fall 2022 (17 October–20 November), D. balteata and D. undecimpunctata howardi peaked mid October to early November, while Anasa tristis DeGeer (squash bug) peaked in mid–late November. Orius insidiosus Say (minute pirate bug) peaked in late summer 2021 and remained stable in fall 2021. Pollinators were most active in mid-fall. Cultivars influenced insect abundance. ‘Saffron’ and ‘Amberpic 8455’ harbored the most O. insidiosus and fewer D. balteata and Thysanoptera species. ‘Golden Goose Hybrid’ had the highest moth numbers. These patterns suggest that cultivar traits influenced pest susceptibility and beneficial arthropods’ activity. Temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with A. vittatum and E. borealis numbers, but rainfall negatively affected bees. These findings underscore the importance of cultivar selection and weather condition considerations in integrated pest management.

Increasing plant diversity in agroecosystems is often proposed as a way to reduce arthropod pest pressure and support natural enemy populations to reduce reliance on traditional chemical controls. Over 2 field seasons, we examined the effects of interplanting cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis) with alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.) and Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.) on arthropod populations, cantaloupe yield, and fruit quality. Arthropod sampling through visual counts, sticky cards, and pitfall traps focused on herbivores and natural enemies across feeding guilds, with more specialized pests in the cucurbit system being identified to lower taxonomic levels. Living mulches might have delayed initial crop colonization by striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum F.) but had limited impact on beetle counts, which remained similarly low throughout the study across treatments. Aphid populations were lowest in wildrye interplanted plots, suggesting species-specific impacts on pest suppression. Beneficial arthropods, such as spiders, piercing predators, and parasitoids, were often more abundant in clover than in wildrye or monoculture plots, especially early in the season. However, cantaloupe yield was highest in monoculture plots, where fruit showed increased weight, size, and favorable color metrics compared to those from living mulch plots. These results indicate that while living mulches can support beneficial arthropods and possibly reduce early pest pressure, they may also introduce trade-offs in yield and quality. Future studies should explore adjustments to living mulch management in cantaloupe, such as reduced density or narrower planting strips, to optimize pest suppression benefits while limiting competition with the cash crop.

A research work was undertaken in the University of Uyo Teaching and Research Farm, Main Campus, Uyo, from March to May during the 2023 cropping season to assess the effect of Organic Mulching and Neem Oil in the Control of Cucumber Beetles (spotted “Diabrotica undecimpunctata” and striped “Acalymma vitatum”) affecting the growth and yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativum, Saira F1 variety). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The experimental plot consisted of three (3) replicates with 2 treatments: organic mulch, organic Neem oil application and control. An early maturing variety of cucumber “Saira F1” was used as planting material sown in March which lasted till May. Data on insect pest population count, growth and yield parameters were studied and the data obtained were analyzed and subjected to analysis of variance using Fisher`s Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. The results from insect population count parameters revealed that Neem oil at 100ml application rate which recorded 10.50 and 6.00 was significantly effective in managing spotted and striped cucumber beetles respectively compared to organic mulch (3kg) which recorded 47.00 and 14.00 for spotted and striped cucumber beetles and control unit which had 61.00 and 42.00 for spotted and striped cucumber beetles respectively. Neem oil at 100ml application rate was also more effective in improving the growth and yield of cucumber plant compared to organic mulch. Hence, Farmers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State should employ Neem oil in managing spotted and striped cucumber beetles in cucumber production as this is a promising botanical insecticide to check the activities of field cucumber beetles thereby bringing their destructive activities to a minimum and also improves yield.

Striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.) and spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber) are key pests of cucurbits. Pesticide applications directed against cucumber beetles can jeopardize bee pollination which is essential to crop yield. Alternative selective tactics, including behavioral control for managing cucumber beetles, are needed in order to improve pest management. The striped cucumber beetle pheromone vittatalactone is attractive to both male and female adults, and also to spotted cucumber beetles. We tested the response of both species to different doses of synthetic vittatalactone, and to different trap types, in field trapping experiments in Maryland. Both species showed strong dose-response in May-June and October 2020. Among 12 trap types tested during a 2-wk experiment in June, using 1 mg mixed vittatalactone, sticky panel traps caught the most of each species, with vittatalactone-baited traps exceeding unbaited traps by >8 fold for striped and >2 fold for spotted, and with significant response to yellow versus clear color absent in striped, but strong in spotted. Among nonsticky traps, those with yellow or yellow-green exceeded those without these colors for both beetle species, and a ground-placed boll weevil trap captured the most striped cucumber beetles. Bucket-style traps caught excessive nontarget bumblebees (Bombus spp.) if yellow, and a few beetles, if all green. Results allow field monitoring with a choice of sticky or nonsticky traps and suggested lure loading of 1 mg mixed vittatalactone, containing ~90 μg active isomer. These findings contribute to the development of multispecies behavioral monitoring and control as a component of cucurbit IPM.

Abstract Integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) has been touted as a novel approach to control pests while mitigating negative effects of insecticides on pollinators. In addition to non‐chemical approaches, IPPM programmes focus on insecticide treatments with low bee toxicity, threshold‐based applications and restricted timings to avoid sprays during pollinator foraging. However, the singular and combined effect of this approach on pollination services and pest management is understudied and generally lacks field validation. In two field studies, we evaluated the effect of IPPM insecticide programmes on striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) management, pollination and watermelon yield. The first trial (2020) featured insecticide treatments representing a factorial combination of (1) products varying in bee toxicity (bifenthrin, cyclaniliprole and acetamiprid), (2) application frequencies (weekly vs. threshold‐based) and (3) application timings (AM vs. PM), as well as an untreated control. These data were then used to inform a second trial (2021) that applied two insecticide treatments (IPPM based or grower standard) to commercial‐scale (20–30 acres) fields in collaboration with regional watermelon farms. Weekly beetle densities, pollinator visitation and yield data were collected to determine programme efficacy. Overall, beetle infestations were successfully managed with all insecticide treatments, none of which compromised marketable yield. In 2020, threshold‐based insecticide programmes offered statistically similar levels of pest control but required 20%–80% fewer applications compared to a weekly programme. Furthermore, pollinator visitation was increased in threshold‐based programmes by ~42% across all products. The on‐farm validation trial in 2021 upheld these findings; IPPM fields had effective beetle control but with 1–7 fewer insecticide applications compared to grower standard fields. IPPM fields also had 62% greater pollinator visitation and 49% more melons during harvest compared to grower standard fields. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates the capacity of IPPM programmes to manage pests while mitigating negative effects on pollinators. In particular, administering insecticide applications by pest thresholds led to the greatest enhancement in pollinator function. These findings also suggest that growers can benefit from this approach with reduced insecticide costs while encouraging pollination in pollinator‐dependent crops.

A major challenge in sustainable agriculture is finding solutions to manage crop-damaging pests such as herbivores while protecting beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Squash is a highly pollinator-dependent crop that is also attractive to herbivores like the striped cucumber beetle. While synthetic insecticides can provide control of insect pests, they can also affect non-target organisms such as pollinators. Thus, growers need to balance pest management with pollinator protection to ensure optimal yield. Thiamethoxam is a commonly used systemic insecticide that translocates throughout plants, leaving residues in nectar and pollen. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there are uses of this insecticide that provides efficient pest control while minimizing pesticide pollinator exposure. Specifically, we tested how different prophylactic application methods (seed treatments, in-furrow applications, and early foliar sprays) of commercially available thiamethoxam products impact pest control, bee visitation, yield, and pesticide residues in flowers of squash crops. We found that among the different methods of thiamethoxam application, in-furrow application best prevented defoliation and resulted in the highest fruit weight and number. However, it also produced the most frequent and highest concentrations of thiamethoxam in nectar and pollen, reaching lethal levels for squash bees. Our study provides evidence that under current application methods, thiamethoxam does not provide a sustainable solution for squash growers and further research is required on more efficient pesticide delivery methods, as well as non-pesticide pest control measurements.

Simple SummaryStriped cucumber beetles are the main pest of cucurbits in North America. Organic cucurbit producers face a great challenge since few effective organic-approved striped cucumber beetle control methods exist. In this study, we evaluated and improved a mass trapping method using perforated yellow jugs with commercially available odorant baits to attract striped cucumber beetles. Our goal was to maximize striped cucumber beetle captures while minimizing unwanted captures of beneficial insects. We found that baited traps attracted more striped cucumber beetles than unbaited traps, and that traps with smaller holes effectively captured striped cucumber beetles while limiting unwanted captures. Finally, we also determined an optimal bait type that should preferentially be used to capture striped cucumber beetles.The striped cucumber beetle (SCB) Acalymma vittatum (F.) (Coleptera: Chrysomelidae) is a prime problem in North American cucurbit crops. While certain chemical pesticides efficiently control SCB in conventional cucurbit fields, alternative solutions are required due to the ever-evolving regulations on pesticides. For organic producers, very few control methods exist. A novel mass trapping method demonstrates the potential of controlling SCBs using floral-based semiochemical baited traps in cucurbit crops. The goals of this study were to (1) determine whether baited traps capture more SCBs than unbaited ones, and (2) optimize the trapping method by comparing different trap types and different commercially available attractants to maximize SCB captures while minimizing non-target species captures. The results of a first experiment showed that baited traps captured significantly more SCBs than unbaited ones. Baited traps also captured significantly more bees and hoverflies than unbaited ones. In a second experiment these unwanted captures were drastically reduced by using traps with ten 4 mm in diameter holes per side. Finally, a third experiment demonstrated that the attractant 40CT313 was the most efficient at capturing SCB compared to other tested lures. Overall, the optimized mass trapping technique demonstrated a potential to effectively control SCB populations in organic cucurbit crops.

Insecticide Efficacy Against Striped Cucumber Beetle in Watermelon, 2021

In response to herbivory, plants emit volatile compounds that play important roles in plant defense. Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) can deter herbivores, recruit natural enemies, and warn other plants of possible herbivore attack. Following HIPV detection, neighboring plants often respond by enhancing their anti-herbivore defenses, but a recent study found that herbivores can manipulate HIPV-interplant communication for their own benefit and suppress defenses in neighboring plants. Herbivores induce species-specific blends of HIPVs and how these different blends affect the specificity of plant defense responses remains unclear. Here we assessed how HIPVs from zucchini plants (Cucurbita pepo) challenged with different herbivore species affect resistance in neighboring plants. Volatile “emitter” plants were damaged by one of three herbivore species: saltmarsh caterpillars (Estigmene acrea), squash bugs (Anasa tristis), or striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum), or were left as undamaged controls. Neighboring “receiver” plants were exposed to HIPVs or control volatiles and then challenged by the associated herbivore species. As measures of plant resistance, we quantified herbivore feeding damage and defense-related phytohormones in receivers. We found that the three herbivore species induced different HIPV blends from squash plants. HIPVs induced by saltmarsh caterpillars suppressed defenses in receivers, leading to greater herbivory and lower defense induction compared to controls. In contrast, HIPVs induced by cucumber beetles and squash bugs did not affect plant resistance to subsequent herbivory in receivers. Our study shows that herbivore species identity affects volatile-mediated interplant communication in zucchini, revealing a new example of herbivore defense suppression through volatile cues.

Co-occurring herbivorous pests may have shared or divergent responses to plant- and insect- derived cues, creating challenges for effective pest management in agroecosystems. We examined how behaviors of two endemic specialist herbivores of Cucurbitaceae crops, squash bugs (Anasa tristis, Hemiptera: Coreidae) and striped cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are affected by cues in the Cucurbita pepo agroecosystem. We evaluated plant resistance to squash bugs and beetles using cultivars that typify the two domesticated subspecies C. p. pepo (e.g., zucchini) and C. p. ovifera (e.g., straightneck summer squash), and tested how squash bugs respond to beetle aggregation and feeding. Across several field experiments, we demonstrated that squash bugs prefer to oviposit on C. p. ovifera over C. p. pepo, while beetles had the opposing preference. Nonetheless, there was no link between preference and squash bug nymphal survival or development. While squash bugs and beetles diverge in preference, we found that squash bugs positively respond to beetle-derived cues. More squash bug oviposition was observed on plants with greater beetle damage and, using both actively feeding beetles and synthetic lures, we demonstrate that bugs eavesdrop on and respond to vittatalactone, the male-produced beetle aggregation pheromone. Thus, squash bugs appear to exploit the cue of a co-occurring specialist beetle for host choice and this has implications for management: while there are trade-offs in varietal preference, synergistic trapping of both pests may be possible. By evaluating the behavior of co-occurring pests, management strategies with multi-species efficacy can be identified and applied in agroecologically-based pest management.

Acalymma vittatum (F.), the striped cucumber beetle, is an important pest of cucurbit crops in the contintental United States, damaging plants through both direct feeding and vectoring of a bacterial wilt pathogen. Besides providing basic biological knowledge, biosequence data for A. vittatum would be useful towards the development of molecular biopesticides to complement existing population control methods. However, no such datasets currently exist. In this study, three biological replicates apiece of male and female adult insects were sequenced and assembled into a set of 630,139 transcripts (of which 232,899 exhibited hits to one or more sequences in NCBI NR). Quantitative analyses identified 2898 genes differentially expressed across the male–female divide, and qualitative analyses characterized the insect’s resistome, comprising the glutathione S-transferase, carboxylesterase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase families of xenobiotic detoxification genes. In summary, these data provide useful insights into genes associated with sex differentiation and this beetle’s innate genetic capacity to develop resistance to synthetic pesticides; furthermore, these genes may serve as useful targets for potential use in molecular-based biocontrol technologies.

Plant varieties resistant to insect pests are a critical component of integrated pest management, but challenges associated with plant breeding for insect resistance, such as a long breeding cycle duration and low trait heritability, slow progress in the field. In this study, we tested two novel selection schemes to improve genetic gain for resistance to the major pest, the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum), in squash (Cucurbita pepo, e.g., zucchini). First, we tested an indirect selection scheme using a proxy insect with correlated resistance phenotypes, Trichoplusia ni, in place of the seasonally available A. vittatum. We found that while resistance to herbivory by T. ni was heritable, there was no reciprocal benefit for resistance to A. vittatum. Second, we tested genomic selection, a method that allows for selection without phenotyping every generation, for both resistance to A. vittatum directly and resistance to the proxy T. ni. Although there was moderate genomic predictive ability, we did not observe realized gains from selection in field trials. Overall, strategies that minimize investment in direct phenotyping, leverage efficiencies from phenotyping correlated traits, and shorten breeding cycle duration are needed to develop insect resistant varieties, and this study provides examples and empirical data of two such approaches deployed in an applied breeding program.

In cucurbit crops such as watermelon, implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) is important due to the high reliance on bees for fruit set, along with mounting evidence of the risks of insecticide use associated with pollinator health. Yet, IPM adoption, on-farm pesticide use behaviors, their costs, and impacts on the primary insect pest (striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum F.) are poorly known in one of the key watermelon-growing regions, the Midwestern United States. To better understand how to implement IPM into watermelon production, we assessed pest management practices on commercial watermelon farms using 30 field sites in Indiana and Illinois over 2 yr in 2017 and 2018. Across all sampling dates, beetles never crossed the economic threshold of five beetles/plant at any farm and most were maintained at densities far below this level (i.e., <1 beetle/plant). Moreover, we documented a wide range of insecticide inputs (mean ca. 5 applications per field per season; max. 10 applications) that were largely dominated by inexpensive foliar pyrethroid sprays; however, insecticide application frequency was poorly correlated with pest counts, suggesting that most of these applications were unnecessary. We calculated that the cost of the average insecticide program far exceeds the cost of scouting, and thus IPM is estimated to save growers ca. $1,000 per field under average conditions (i.e., field size, insecticide cost). These data strongly indicate that current management practices on commercial farms in the Midwest would benefit from implementing more threshold-based IPM programs with potential increases in both farm profitability and pollination services.

Predator richness predicts pest suppression within organic and conventional summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L. Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae)

Abstract Increasing habitat complexity through cover cropping has been proposed as a tactic to reduce herbivore colonization and encourage natural enemies in cropping systems. To test the supposition that cover crops can be used to alter arthropod communities, we compared arthropod communities on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.; Cucurbitaceae) interplanted with a red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; Fabaceae) living mulch and grown as a monoculture. In 2016 and 2017, visual surveys and yellow sticky card traps were used to estimate numbers of arthropod natural enemies and herbivores in each treatment. Among herbivores, striped cucumber beetles [Acalymma vittatum (Fabricius, 1775); Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] and melon aphids (Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877; Hemiptera: Aphididae) had lower densities in the presence of red clover. However, populations of spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, 1947; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) had a variable response to red clover. Sticky card captures of natural enemies, including bigeyed bugs (Geocoris spp. Fallén; Hemiptera: Geocoridae), minute pirate bugs (Orius spp. Wolff; Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), and lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were generally greater in cucumber interplanted with red clover than monoculture. Overall, cucumber yield did not differ between treatments. Findings from this study lend support to the hypothesis that greater habitat complexity can reduce herbivore densities.

The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum F. (Figure 1) is a serious agricultural pest of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae in eastern North America. Crops affected by larval and adult feeding include cucumber, Cucumis sativus L., cantaloupe, Cucumis melo L., pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo L., and other Cucurbita spp. (Dill and Kirby 2016). The striped cucumber beetle is a vector of the plant disease bacterial wilt (Eaton 2016). Though the striped cucumber beetle occurs throughout Florida, it is the least commonly reported among three chrysomelid species on cucurbit crops in the state. The spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, and banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, are more common in Florida, causing damage symptoms that are similar to striped cucumber feeding damage (Webb 2010). Includes: Introduction - Distribution - Description and Life Cycle - Damage - Monitoring - Management - Selected References.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1215&#x0D; Also published at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/VEG/BEAN/striped_cucumber_beetle.html

Bacterial wilt of cucurbits, incited by Erwinia tracheiphila (E. F. Smith) and vectored by the striped cucumber beetle [ Acalymma vittatum (F.)] (SCB), is a serious disease of muskmelon ( Cucumis melo L.). Cultivars differ in attractiveness to SCB and susceptibility to bacterial wilt, but no cultivar resistant to bacterial wilt has been introduced. In 2015 and 2016, replicated field plots of eight cultivars were grown at Lafayette, Wanatah, and Vincennes, IN, to identify differences in attractiveness to SCB and susceptibility to bacterial wilt. ‘Savor’ had significantly more beetle activity than ‘Hales Best’, ‘Superstar’, and ‘Aphrodite’ in three of six site-years, and more than ‘Diplomat’, ‘Dream Dew’, ‘Athena’, and ‘Wrangler’ in two site-years. Beetle activity for ‘Athena’, ‘Superstar’, and ‘Wrangler’ did not differ significantly from ‘Aphrodite’ for any site-year. Bacterial wilt severity was significantly greater for ‘Diplomat’ and ‘Dream Dew’ than for other cultivars in four site-years. ‘Superstar’ had the least disease in five site-years, but significantly less than ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Athena’, and ‘Hales Best’ in only one site-year. At one site, additional plots of each cultivar were populated with five SCBs per plant, and rowcovers were applied to keep the SCBs near the plants for 3 weeks. This resulted in similar beetle activity on all cultivars, but most disease in ‘Dream Dew’ and least in ‘Superstar’ and ‘Athena’. Marketable yield was generally highest for ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Superstar’, and ‘Athena’ when plants were exposed to natural beetle populations. Overall, ‘Savor’ and ‘Diplomat’ were the most attractive to beetles, and ‘Diplomat’ and ‘Dream Dew’ were the most susceptible to bacterial wilt. ‘Aphrodite’, ‘Athena’, and ‘Superstar’ were less attractive to beetles and showed more tolerance to bacterial wilt in both 2015 and 2016.