Trap Crops for Insect Pest Management

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

Extension Resources for Farmers & Gardeners

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!

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!

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

YouTube Channel: IPMNews
Recorded Live in Field!
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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!

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

Why practice IPM?
Based on economic & environmental sustainability principle
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a threshold-based decision management system that uses multiple pest control tactics.
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.

Major Issues with IPM
Less emphasis on cultural insect control practices
Poor crop selection = stressed plants = more pests
Lack of early detection of insects = last minute decision = over dependence on insecticides
Insecticide resistance
Pest resurgence
Environmental impact??
….IPM is unsustainable if it is ‘pesticide intensive’
We need to approach pest management from a holistic or ecological perspective.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Does net house block insect pests?
Yes, it does! Here are the pheromone trap catches for major pests.
Only one insecticide spray was needed to control aphid outbreak.
Armyworms (<0.2 larvae/plant) & stink bugs were removed manually.
Vegetables outside net house were sprayed bi-weekly to control caterpillars.

Other Research/Extension Projects(Grant funded)
Stink bug management with trap crops (2011-2012)
Pheromone-based monitoring of critical pests (2009 & 2010)
Inter-row cover crops for reducing disease transmission in peppers & pumpkins (2011-2012)
Net house vegetable production (continued research)
Industry-supported research:
Biological control of aphids/caterpillars: BotaniGard, Molt-X, Suffoil-X (tank mixes)
Synthetic insecticides: Movento, Belt, Synapse, Radiant, Entrust

MAJOR VEGETABLE INSECT PESTS 2010

>Half of AL predicted under drought in 2011

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

Beet armyworm, Spodopteraexigua
Spider mites (Tetranychus sp.)
Fall armyworm, Spodopterafrugiperda
Tomato fruitworm, Helicoverpazea

Squash vine borer, Mellitiacucurbitae
Sugarcane beetle, Euetheolarugiceps
Tomato hornworm, Manducaquinquemaculata

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

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

TRAP CROPPING: CONCEPTS & APPLICATIONS

What is a trap cropping?
“Trap cropping is a special case of multiple cropping.”
Agronomic definition:
Trap cropping is the planting of an attractive trap crop to protect the main crop (PAN Germany, 2009). Trap crop may or may not be harvestable.
Entomological definition:
Presence of second crop in the vicinity of principal crop diverts a pest, which would otherwise attack the principal crop” (Van der Meer 1981)

How to visualize trap crops?
Trap Crops
+
Mechanical Removal
Or
Selective insecticide
=
Ecological Pest Management (EPM)
Trap
crop

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)

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

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)

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

Perimeter Trap Cropping (contd.)
Cook et al. (2006): Rothamsted Research, UK
Trap crop = turnip rape (Brassica rapa)
Main crop = oilseed rape (B. napus)
Target insect = pollen beetles
Cook et al (2007) called this the ‘push-pull’ strategy

Within-Row Trap Cropping
Planting trap crop (alfalfa) in rows within the main crop (cotton)
Sustainable American Cotton Project, NCAT
Cotton
Cotton
Southern green stink bug
Alfalfa

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

Strip Trap Cropping
Planting trap crops in a strip along one common border between two or more crops
Tillman (2006): integrated trap crops + pheromone traps
Target: Green stink bugs
SORGHUM (panicle stage)
PEANUTS
COTTON
High parasitism rates from tachinid fly in sorghum
Source: USDA-ARS

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

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

Advantages of trap cropping
Sustainable technology – many success stories available
Allows small startup without investing in large equipment
May pay for itself if crop is harvestable (alfalfa, squash)
Can be integrated with other technologies: pheromone traps, conservation systems`
Reduces dependence on insecticides
Conserves or attracts natural enemies to trap crop
+

Benefits of Trap Cropping
Source: Boucher & Durgy, 2004

Disadvantages of trap cropping
Growers need knowledge of insect behavior, migration, seasonal abundance etc.
Need for additional planning and resources
Insecticide may still be needed
Results may be inconsistent (moderated by weather events)
Timely management of insects in trap crop: otherwise you have a “pest nursery”

If you use trap cropping then…
Choose trap crops that have rapid growth…
Proportion of land in traps ~10-20%…
Plant a dense row of trap crop, plant early…
Choose a simple design – easy to manage…
Use a well-managed grassy corridor so NEs can move
Consult with Extension and share info with friends!

Trap Crops for Insect Pest Management

by Dr. Ayanava Majumdar, Auburn University on Jan 27, 2011

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