This presentation was delivered at the 2011 Gulf Coast Fruit & Vegetable Conference on January 27th, organized by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The presetation disccuses some trap cropping techniques for sustainable vegetable production. Various Extension IPM resources for farmers is also included in the slideshow.

1. Innovative Pest Management Techniques Integrating Trap Crops & Insecticides Dr. Ayanava Majumdar Extension Entomologist (Peanuts, Vegetables) State SARE Coordinator (Auburn U) Alabama Cooperative Extension System Cell phone: 251-331-8416 bugdoctor@auburn.edu

2. Extension Resources for Farmers & Gardeners

3. THE OVERALL THEME OF THIS TALK IS… AGRICULTURE IN THE 21ST CENTURY MUST MOVE TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS ALABAMA EXTENSION PROGRAMS ARE COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE!

4. IPM COmmunicationREsource (IPM-CORE): Providing Thrust to IPM & Sustainable Agriculture in Alabama www.aces.edu/go/87 This website gives access to blogs, presentations, newsletters & other publications, insecticide recommendations & more!

5. Facebook: ‘Alabama Vegetable IPM’ Search for ‘Alabama Vegetable IPM’ & subscribe for periodic updates on insect & disease issues

6. YouTube Channel: IPMNews Recorded Live in Field! Search for ‘IPMNews’ channel & subscribe for periodic updates on insect & disease issues

7. The IPM Communicator(A FREE electronic newsletter) Six financial gains reports: $3,550 in pesticide saving Sign up today at the Exhibit for 2011 series starting soon!

8. Vegetable Production in Alabama 34 major vegetables produced 2006: 5700 acres >> 2008: 5,950 acres 100% fresh market produce Value: ~$17 million Tomato: ~1300 acres = $12 million

10. Integrated pest management (IPM) is a threshold-based decision management system that uses multiple pest control tactics.

11. Average gain from vegetable IPM is $19 for every dollar spent*Insecticide usage in AL (all crops): 200,000 to 770,000 lb/year *L. Gianessi, 2009. Crop Protection Research Institute.

13. Poor crop selection = stressed plants = more pests

14. Lack of early detection of insects = last minute decision = over dependence on insecticides

15. Insecticide resistance

16. Pest resurgence

17. Environmental impact??….IPM is unsustainable if it is ‘pesticide intensive’ We need to approach pest management from a holistic or ecological perspective.

18. Ecological Pest Management (EPM) From Altieri, Nicholls, and Fritz (2005): Manage Insects on Your Farm (SARE) Ecological Pest Management System incorporates the broad knowledge of the agro-ecosystem to choose pest management tactics that are timely, environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Goal of EPM: Maintain Healthy Plants From Root to Foliage ‘Pillars’ of EPM: Crop DiversityReduce Tillage Rotations Maintain Soil Cover Cover Crops Add Organic Matter Plant Breeding Nutrient Management Below ground factors Above ground factors

19. Current Research & Extension Focus Emphasis on Pest Detection using pheromone traps: Use insect traps for improved scouting, early detection of pests Trap Catch = Pest Density X Pest Activity (Taylor, 1963) Insect Monitoring Project (2009-2010) finding: sustainable agriculture can reduce pest pressures, see subsequent slides. Stink bug trap Corn rootworm trap Sticky wing trap

20. Beet Armyworm Moth Activity in Alabama: Conventional Farm (A) vs. Organic Farm (B) Locations: Clay County (A) Dale County (B) Numbers indicate moth catches in 12 days.

21. Tomato Fruitworm Moth Activity in Alabama: Conventional Farm (A) vs. Organic Farm (B) Locations: Clay County (A) Dale County (B) Numbers indicate moth catches in 12 days.

22. On-farm Research: First Net house in Alabama Location: Baldwin County, AL Dimensions: 150 ft long, 48 ft wide, 17 ft high center, 12 ft high sides Entrance: Double door Fabric mesh 30-50 as insect barrier. Mesh size depends on target insect & cost. Height provides air movement, fans can also be installed

24. Armyworms (<0.2 larvae/plant) & stink bugs were removed manually.

26. MAJOR VEGETABLE INSECT PESTS 2010

27. >Half of AL predicted under drought in 2011

28. Major Insect Pests – Sentinel Plots (2010 - A drought year) Mexican bean beetle, Epilachnavarivestis Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsadecemlineata(Say) Yellowstriped armyworm, Spodopteraornithogalli(Guenee) Grasshopper Brown stink bug, Euschistusservus(Say) Tomato hornworm, Manducaquinquemaculata(Linnaeus) Aphid outbreak on bell pepper

29. Major Insect Pests – Sentinel Plots (2010 - A drought year) Beet armyworm, Spodopteraexigua Spider mites (Tetranychus sp.) Fall armyworm, Spodopterafrugiperda Tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpazea

30. Major Insect Pests – Sentinel Plots (2010 - A drought year) Squash vine borer, Mellitiacucurbitae Sugarcane beetle, Euetheolarugiceps Tomato hornworm, Manducaquinquemaculata

31. Emerging Pest on Vegetables: Leaffooted Bugs Leptoglossusgonagra Leptoglossusphyllopus Heavy fruit drop can cause major losses in eggplants and tomatoes Leptoglossuszonatus

32. Emerging Crop Pests: Invasive Insects Brown marmorated stink bug, Hyalomorphahalys Bean plataspid, Megacopta cribraria Detected in AL in 2010 Seeks shelter in homes Infests kudzu, soybean…what’s next? UGA Photos

33. TRAP CROPPING: CONCEPTS & APPLICATIONS

36. Major Principle of Trap Cropping Insects are attracted to plant volatiles Insects have differential host preference Insect may feed and reproduce in preferred host How trap cropping works? Behavioral theories that may explain success of trap crops! Visual camouflage (Smith 1969) Masking of host plant odor (Tahvanainen & Root 1972) Resource concentration hypothesis (Root 1973) Appropriate/inappropriate landings (Finch & Collier 2000)

37. Major Techniques of Trap Cropping Selection of a more preferred cultivar or species at the same time as the main crop Planting of the same species and cultivar as the main crop timed to be at the most preferred stage of development before the main crop Source: Wszelaki and Broughton, UT Extension W235-F

38. Trap cropping arrangements Perimeter Trap Cropping Trap crop = early planted squash, apply insecticide on borders Squash lured 66% cucumber beetles and 90% squash bugs Trap crop (squash) Main crop (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber)

39. Trap cropping arrangements Perimeter Trap Cropping TRAP CROP Trap crop Boucher et al. (2003): bell pepper (main crop) + hot cherry peppers (trap crop) for pepper maggots Trap crop surrounds the main crop from all sides MAIN CROP

41. Trap crop = turnip rape (Brassica rapa)

42. Main crop = oilseed rape (B. napus)

43. Target insect = pollen beetles

45. Trap cropping arrangements Within-Row Trap Cropping (contd.) Planting trap crop (alfalfa) in rows within the main crop (strawberry) & a using vacuum! Strawberry production in California Strawberry (34 rows) Strawberry (34 rows) Western tarnished plant bug damage Alfalfa

47. Tillman (2006): integrated trap crops + pheromone trapsTarget: Green stink bugs SORGHUM (panicle stage) PEANUTS COTTON High parasitism rates from tachinid fly in sorghum Source: USDA-ARS

48. Trap cropping systems Dead-end Trap Cropping (Shelton & Nault 2004, Badenez-Perez et al. 2004) Trap crop is highly attractive to the insect pest, but the trap crop does not support its growth & development. Diamondback moths are attracted to yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) over cabbage TRAP CROP MAIN CROP

49. Maintain grassy corridors Integrate with trap crops Have a well managed strip of grassland Important for natural enemy conservation Monitor pests and beneficials in the corridor

51. Allows small startup without investing in large equipment

52. May pay for itself if crop is harvestable (alfalfa, squash)

53. Can be integrated with other technologies: pheromone traps, conservation systems`

54. Reduces dependence on insecticides

55. Conserves or attracts natural enemies to trap crop+

56. Benefits of Trap Cropping Source: Boucher & Durgy, 2004

58. Need for additional planning and resources

59. Insecticide may still be needed

60. Results may be inconsistent (moderated by weather events)