Pickle Insect Management: Present and Future

Pickling Cucumber Improvement Committee Meeting Abstract

Kenneth A. Sorensen

Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University

Insects and mites continue to threaten cucumber growers and pickle processors. Of concern are seedcorn maggot, cucumber beetles, and pickleworm. Secondary insect pests include aphids, leafminers, mites, thrips, whiteflies, melonworm, and worms. International pests of concern are the gherkin fruit borer and the melon fly. Direct feeding damage affects stands, yield and quality. Indirect damage centers on insects as vectors of plant disease. This area is expected to increase with new technology, new plant diseases and increased globalization.

Entomological issues now and for the future are as follows: new and old insects, insect vectors, FQPA, reduced risk insecticides, new formulations/rates and specificity, information delivery technology, HPR/GMO’s, seed treatments, Biointensive IPM and Privatization/Globalization with seed, products, food safety, and environmental stewardship. Insect pest status with stages and damage identification and recognition will demand resources. Aphids, thrips, whitefly, and mites as vectors of plant disease will demand research. Insecticides, application technology and regulations will limit growth and expansion. The need for information services will use traditional and nontraditional methods. Insect color guides (CD’s), forecasting, GPS/GIS systems, IPM training, Distance Education, and WWW Earthlink will provide information overload and increase demands for service and interpretations with decision making systems. Biointensive IPM will contain Breeding/HPR, plant production systems, plasticulture, protective culture, biological/biorational control, water/energy management, genomics, and precision technology. Research, development and extension will require private cooperation, networking and funding. Public policy will center on plant and human health and nutrition, environmental and energy conservation, privatization and globalization of production, and consumption.

This presentation and poster/display will elaborate on pickle insect management tactics and strategies. Issues, constraints, policies and technology will guide insect management into the 21st Century. Old and new insects will be introduced, reduced risk insecticides will be discussed, insecticide application approaches will be shared, insect monitoring and forecasting will be discussed, and information resources and services will be presented in multimedia format.

For further information, contact:

  • Dr. Kenneth A. Sorensen, Extension Entomologist
  • Department of Entomology
  • North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695-7626
  • Telephone: 919-515-1662; Fax: 919-515-7273
  • E-mail: kenneth_sorensen@ncsu.edu

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