Integrating chemical and spatial ecology to develop IPM strategies for striped cucumber beetle

The striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) is a key pest of cucurbits in the eastern United States, causing heavy economic damage each year through early-season feeding and transmission of bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila). Conventional control relies heavily on insecticides, which pose risks to pollinators, farmworkers, and environmental health for wildlife and the public. This project investigates a potential semiochemical-based “trap-out” strategy by targeting beetles emerging from overwintering before cucurbit crops are available. We use synthetic A. vittatum aggregation pheromone (vittatalactone) in combination with the floral volatile indole to enhance early-season trapping across small-scale farms in Virginia. Our objectives include: (1) evaluate whether early-season trapping reduces beetle pressure and disease incidence during the growing season; (2) investigate the spatial ecology of early beetle emergence using transect-based trapping relative to landscape features; and (3) assess beetle dispersal capacity through genetic microsatellite analysis to inform appropriate scales for population management. Results so far show promising reductions in beetle captures at treated farms and support strategic placement of traps near likely overwintering sites such as tree lines near previous years’ cucurbit plots. Disease incidence surveys in 2025 will quantify impacts on bacterial wilt. This research will contribute to the development of a sustainable IPM approach that supports small-scale growers using organic practices. Insight into beetle movement will inform whether localized or areawide strategies are more effective. By aligning chemical ecology with landscape-scale monitoring, we aim to create a pest management strategy that is biologically informed and practically accessible for diverse grower communities.