The western spotted cucumber beetle (WSCB) is a major pest of many vegetable crops grown the western United States, including snap beans, sweet corn, spinach, cauliflower and lettuce. The striped cucumber beetle (STCB) is the most important insect pest of cucurbits, destroying seedlings and reducing yield through larval root feeding. There are few effective control measures available for these pests in organic farming systems.

We have been developing and evaluating trap and kill technologies for the spotted and striped cucumber beetles using volatile kairomones and feeding stimulants. The kairomone mimics the odor of squash flowers. From 2004 to 2005, we evaluated kairomone dispensers and kairomone dosages to obtain maximum attractiveness and longevity of the lure in the field. We also experimented with a feeding stimulant made from spray-dried juice from a mutant 'Hawkesbury' watermelon that contains high levels of cucurbitacin glycocides. These cucurbitacins are known feeding stimulants for these beetles. We have been experimenting with 6 by 8 inch yellow fabric panels which are soaked with the melon juice and "Entrust," an organically approved insecticide.

In 2005 we grew and processed the watermelon to obtain a new supply of juice and pulp. We are envisioning a series of bait stations mounted on poles with kairomone dispensers at the edge of a crop field to be protected. We will also continue to work with estimating mortality from the fatal fabrics, as well as experimenting with other types of traps.