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1 February 2004 Confirmation of bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata, feeding on cucurbits
R. L. Koch, E. C. Burkness, W. D. Hutchison
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The objective of these studies was to assess the degree to which bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster), will feed on cucurbits. In 2003, we documented an infestation of C. trifurcata in a commercial pumpkin field near Rosemount, MN, USA. To evaluate C. trifurcata feeding on cucurbits, we conducted laboratory no-choice and choice test feeding studies. In the laboratory, C. trifurcata fed most heavily on cotyledon-stage cucumber plants, followed by pumpkin and squash. With soybean plants present, C. trifurcata still fed on cucumber plants. However, C. trifurcata appeared to prefer soybeans until the quality of the soybean plants was diminished through feeding damage. This is the first known report of C. trifurcata feeding on cucurbits. The pest potential of C. trifurcata in cucurbit cropping systems should be further evaluated.

R. L. Koch, E. C. Burkness, and W. D. Hutchison "Confirmation of bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata, feeding on cucurbits," Journal of Insect Science 4(5), 1-6, (1 February 2004). https://doi.org/10.1673/031.004.0501
Received: 15 September 2003; Accepted: 1 December 2003; Published: 1 February 2004
KEYWORDS
Cerotoma trifurcata
cucumber
host plant
pumpkin
squash
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