This document discusses ecological management of insect pests that affect cucurbit crops in Saudi Arabia. It provides background on major cucurbit crops grown in Saudi Arabia such as cucumber, squash, melon and watermelon. It then describes several major insect pests that damage these crops, including cucumber beetles, squash vine borer, squash bugs, pickleworm, and spider mites. The document concludes by outlining ecological management strategies for these pests, emphasizing cultural practices like crop rotation, sanitation, and use of resistant varieties to reduce pest damage in an environmentally-friendly way.

1. Prepared by: Hael Saeed Ahmed Raweh (436107622)
Ph.D. 2nd Semester
College of Food and Agriculture Sciences
King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA
Ecological management Cucurbits Pests

2. Introduction
- Cucurbitaceae consists of about 118 genera and 825 species.
- Cucurbits using as food in worldwide.
- There is large genetic diversity within the family.
- Cultivated both in tropical and subtropical countries.
- Insects and mites can cause severe problems in the production of Cucurbits.
- The timing of control tactics is critical for many of these pests.
(Rai., et al 2008; Gerald., 2009).

3. Cucurbits in Saudi Arabia
- Cucurbits are of great economic
importance among the major vegetable
crops in Saudi Arabia.
- where total production of cucurbits
(squash, cucumber, melon, and
watermelon) reached 962,178 tons from
a cultivated area of 40,067 ha in 2012.
(Agricultural Statistical Year Book 2013).

4. - Cucurbits are growing primarily in the temperate and tropical regions.
- Major cucurbit crops include cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), melon (Cucumis melo L.), watermelon
[Citrulus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai], and squash or pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L., Cucurbita
maxima Duch. and Cucurbita moschata Duch.)
- Major cucurbit crops include cucumber, melon, watermelon, and squash/pumpkin.
CUCUMBER SQUASH MELON PUMPKIN GOURD
Major Cucurbit Crops
(Weng & Sun 2011; Cseke, et al., 2011).

5. - Cucurbits are a family of healthy foods.
- Cucurbit crops important vegetable crops that play
significant roles in human diet as well as rural economy.
- Cucumber, melon, watermelon and pumpkin/squash are the
basis for multi-billion dollar industries.
- Vitamins source.
- Beneficial nutrients and minerals.
- Source of dietary fiber.
- Not only do carotenoids help protect the skin and eyes from
UV radiation, but they also aid in the production of
detoxification enzymes, help protect the body from free
radicals, and aid in modify the immune response.
- As a fresh vegetable
- Consumed fresh in salads
- Pickling
- Cosmetics products
- Anti bacterial regents
- Dessert fruit
Pumpkin pie is a popular way of preparing pumpkin
Economic Uses

6. - Bees are an essential part of the production of all cucurbits.
- Wild bees and other insects are normally sufficient to pollinate
small fields.
- In plants carotenoids provide bright pigment to attract pollinators.
Pollination

7. Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma sp.).Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica sp.).Banded cucumber beetle (Diabrotica balteata).
larvae squash vine borer, (Melittia cucurbitae) Squash Bugs (Anasa tristis)
Webb,. 2013; Gerald., 2009
Red Pumpkin Beetle (Aulacophora foviecollis)
INSECT PESTS OF CUCURBITS

8. Whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii) Melon aphids (Aphis gossyppi).
Adult squash beetle (Epilachna borealis),Pickleworm larvae (Diaphania nitidalis)
Webb,. 2013; Gerald., 2009
Spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae).
Leafminer (Liriomyza sativae)

9. Cabbage looper Beet armyworm
Wire worms
Other Pests include
Seed Corn Maggot
ThripsCucurbit fruit fly.

10. - Cultural / Agronomic Practices
Ecological Management
- Host Plant Resistance

11. - Crop rotation and a host-free period: help minimize the size of the beetle population.
- Floating row covers: can also be used to exclude the beetles from the plants.
- Squash is the beetle’s favorite host plant and may be used as a trap crop for other cucurbits.
- Trap baits and sticky traps
- Eliminate weeds, weedy edges
- Use Economic Thresholds. (watermelons, squash, and pumpkin, the economic threshold is (5
beetles/plant.)
- Delayed planting is an especially useful cultural strategy in cucurbits because this technique
also bypasses first generation squash bugs.
- Mulching can prevent cucumber beetles from laying eggs in the ground near plant stems.
- Cultivation and residue removal.
- Insect vacuuming.
- Use cover crop. (Webb,. 2013; Gerald., 2009; Ricky., 2016; Steve & Hinman 2008)
ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF INSECT PESTS
Cucumber beetle
• (Cucumbers, Melons, Pumpkins and Squashes) Adult and larvae
damage plants …Wilt…. Defoliation …Pollination interference
• Females lay eggs in the soil and at the base of the plants.

12. - Tillage: exposing cocoons that are buried 1-6 inches deep.
- Resistant Varieties: Butternut squash exhibits a higher level of resistance.
- Floating row covers: prevent the moths from laying eggs.
- A second planting of summer squash made in early July will mature after adult
borers have finished laying eggs.
- Practice good field sanitation.
- Destroy residue.
(Qureshi et al, 2007; Gerald., 2009; Hahn & Burkness 2007).
• Squashes and pumpkins, the squash vine borer rarely
attacks cucumbers and melons
• The moth lays eggs singly at the base of the stems or on
the petioles of leaves.
• The larvae bore into vines and feed on internal tissues.
• Infested vines often wilt and die.
Squash vine borer

13. - Sown early that the plant passes the cotyledon stage by the time the beetles become active.
- Resistance Breeding for resistant.
- Cultural practices like clean cultivation.
- After harvesting deep tillage of infested field to kill the cocoons and larvae in the soil.
- Crop Rotation will reduce pest damage.
- Flooding irrigation in the field.
(Wehner., 1991; Brown ., 2015; Paul., 2007).
Red Pumpkin Beetle (Aulacophora foviecollis)
 Cucurbits.
 Adult beetles attacking on the leaves, flowers and fruits.
Making holes .
 Females begin to lay eggs as they disperse throughout the
field.
 Larvae live in the soil and feed on the roots and stem of the
plant.

14. - Timing is the key to successful squash bug
control.
- Destroy the Overwintering Sites by tillage.
- Trap with wooden boards (cardboard ) under
each squash plant.
- Floating row cover from transplant to flower.
- Plant late
- Trap crop plant a spring squash.
- Use Economic Threshold 1 egg mass per plant.
- Sanitation.
(Gerald., 2009; Jon., 2013; Ricky., 2016).
Squash Bugs Anasa tristis
• Both nymphs and adults suck the plant sap from
leaves and vines

15. - Select early maturing varieties
- Destroy damaged fruit and crush rolled sections of leaves to kill pupae.
- Resistant varieties like Butternut 23, Summer Crookneck.
- Cover plants with screen or row covers to prevent moths from depositing
eggs on the foliage (floating row covers )
- Trap crop : squash
- Crop Rotation
(Webb., 2013; Wilkerson., 2005).
Pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis)
• Damages cucumbers, cantaloupes, summer squash and pumpkins by larvae.
• Female laid singularly or in small groups on leaves

16. Squash beetle (Epilachna borealis)
Both adults and larvae of squash beetle feed on the leaves and fruit of cucurbits.
Female laid eggs on the leaf surface.
- Row covers can exclude the beetles from cucurbit crops prevent damage.
- Remove any crop debris immediately after the growing season ends.
- Remove remaining plant material and fallen leaves into the soil.
- Tilling the planting area once again in the spring helps expose squash beetle eggs
and larvae to predatory birds and inclement weather conditions.
(Jude., 2014)

17. Whitefly Bemisia argentifolii
Affect the crop directly by its feeding and acting as a vector of viruses.
- Reflective mulch helpful early in the season before plants cover it.
- Site selection: Avoid planting next to other infested crops, especially
those that are nearing maturity.
- Destroying the crop soon after harvest
- Floating row covers.
- Planting as early as possible.
- Sanitation: weeds and residues removed
- Silver- or aluminum-colored mulches
- Yellow sticky traps.
- Trap Crops: Cantaloupe and Cucumber
(Webb., 2013)

18. Melon aphids (Aphis gossyppi).
• Aphid attack all kinds of cucurbits
• Reduction in the quality and quantity of the fruit.
• Vector of viruses.
- Monitor crops.
- Spray leaves with soapy water, then rinse with clear water.
- Reflective mulches may slow down infestation when plants are small and may
repel virus vectors until plants cover mulch.
- Filling yellow pans with water to trap the aphids.
- Healthy seedling selection.
- Sanitation: weeds, infested plants, crop debris must be removed.
- Use clean transplants: don't introduce the pests.
- Avoid overlapping crops or kill pests in residue before planting again nearby.
- Crop Rotation.
- Use tolerant varieties.
- Using yellow stick trap
- Early planted: Rarely affect muskmelons and cucumbers.
- Site selection: Avoid planting next to earlier, infested and avoid planting near
cotton, another source of aphids.
(Gerald., 2009; Jon., 2013; Webb., 2013 ;Ricky., 2016).

19. spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)
Attack of watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe and squash.
- Crop rotation is a very important method in controlling such pest.
- Maintain good plant growth.
- Keep plant moisture as high as possible.
- Avoid excess dust.
- Sprinkler Irrigation.
- Sanitation = Remove weeds.
- Host-Plant Resistance: cucumber, watermelon.
- Use of polyethylene plastic mulch: Promote plant vigor.
(Olbricht et al., 2014; Groves., 2009; FAO., 2007)

20. Conclusion
In ecological pest management on cucurbits
- Healthy, strong growing plants are the best way of preventing many
pests.
- Applying suitable cultivation methods combined with IPM will reduce
damage by insect pests.
- Adopt crop rotation but Avoid growing monocrop.
- Do not plant or irrigate the field after ploughing directly.
- Growing resistant varieties can effectively reduce insect pests and
diseases.
- Mulching by black or white polyethylene sheets is effective.
- Remove row covers during flowering to allow pollination.

21. References
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