Evaluation of integrated pest management tools used to control squash bugs, Anasa tristis, (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in squash

Squash farmers in the Southeast seek alternative methods of managing squash bugs. Previous research has shown success with insecticides, however, there has been varying success utilizing cultural control methods. Through farmscaping or intercropping floral resources, beneficial insects will receive greater incentive to visit otherwise less enticing monocultures. The Griffin location during the 2014 season was the only positive result with lower abundance of squash bugs and greater yield in the treated than in the control plots (F1,166 = 27.74, 30, 30.53, 18.18, and 19.69 respectively, p value < 0.0001) and (F1,117 = 1.77, p value = 0.1862). Fields treated with floral resources were expected to have greater abundance and diversity of beneficial insects (e.g. parasitic Hymenoptera and predatory Hemiptera). With the increased exposure to beneficial insects, damage done by the squash bug was expected to be less compared to plots without floral resources.