Publications

curcurbita pepo subspecies delineates striped cucumber beetle (acalymma vittatum) preference.	the striped cucumber beetle (acalymma vittatum (f.)) is a destructive pest of cucurbit crops, and management could be improved by host plant resistance, especially in organic farming systems. however, despite the variation in striped cucumber beetle preference observed within the economically important species, cucurbita pepo l., plant breeders and entomologists lacked a simple framework to classify and exploit these differences. this study used recent phylogenetic evidence and bioassays to orga ...	2016	27347423
conspecific and heterospecific aboveground herbivory both reduce preference by a belowground herbivore.	insect herbivores damage plants both above- and belowground, and interactions in each realm can influence the other via shared hosts. while effects of leaf damage on aboveground interactions have been well-documented, studies examining leaf damage effects on belowground interactions are limited, and mechanisms for these indirect interactions are poorly understood. we examined how leaf herbivory affects preference of root-feeding larvae [acalymma vittatum f. (coleoptera: chrysomelidae)] in cucumb ...	2015	26313185
striped cucumber beetle (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) aggregation in response to cultivar and flowering.	the striped cucumber beetle [acalymma vittatum (f.)] is a specialist pest of cucurbits throughout its range in the united states and canada. improved integrated pest management options are needed across the pest's range, especially on organic farms where there are few effective controls. trap cropping in cucurbits is an option, but there are significant challenges to the technique. because cucurbit flowers are highly attractive to the beetles, four field experiments tested whether cultivar and p ...	2015	26313184
dynamics of short- and long-term association between a bacterial plant pathogen and its arthropod vector.	the dynamics of association between pathogens and vectors can strongly influence epidemiology. it has been proposed that wilt disease epidemics in cucurbit populations are sustained by persistent colonization of beetle vectors (acalymma vittatum) by the bacterial phytopathogen erwinia tracheiphila. we developed a qpcr method to quantify e. tracheiphila in whole beetles and frass and used it to assess pathogen acquisition and retention following variable exposure to infected plants. we found that ...	2014	24561664
a general, asymmetric, and noniterative synthesis of trideoxypropionates. straightforward syntheses of the pheromones (+)-vittatalactone and (+)-norvittatalactone.	a novel, highly stereocontrolled, and very flexible synthetic access to biologically relevant trideoxypropionate building blocks in optically pure form has been developed. on the basis of a three-step sequence comprising a thermal oxy-cope rearrangement, an iridium-catalyzed hydrogenation, and an auxiliary-controlled enolate methylation, trideoxypropionates with easily adjustable relative configuration were synthesized in excellent yields. in addition, the functionalized end groups allow for che ...	2012	22188256
effects of above- and belowground herbivory on growth, pollination, and reproduction in cucumber.	plants experience unique challenges due to simultaneous life in two spheres, above- and belowground. interactions with other organisms on one side of the soil surface may have impacts that extend across this boundary. although our understanding of plant-herbivore interactions is derived largely from studies of leaf herbivory, belowground root herbivores may affect plant fitness directly or by altering interactions with other organisms, such as pollinators. in this study, we investigated the effe ...	2011	20859750
enantioselective total synthesis of the unnatural and the natural stereoisomers of vittatalactone.	the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum, is a cause of major damage to cucurbit crops in north america. to develop an environmentally benign plant protection strategy, recent research has focused on identifying sex pheromones of the cucumber beetle. in this context, we developed the asymmetric total synthesis of the aggregation pheromone of a. vittatum, vittatalactone, to determine its absolute configuration and to further examine the pheromone response in field studies. the synthesis fea ...	2010	20527973
floral transmission of erwinia tracheiphila by cucumber beetles in a wild cucurbita pepo.	cucumber beetles, acalymma vittatum (f.) and diabrotica undecipunctata howardi (barber), are specialist herbivores of cucurbits and the vector of erwinia tracheiphila (e.f. smith) holland, the causative agent of wilt disease. cucumber beetles transmit e. tracheiphila when infected frass falls onto leaf wounds at the site of beetle feeding. we show that e. tracheiphila also can be transmitted via the floral nectaries of cucurbita pepo ssp. texana l. andres (texas gourd). under field conditions, w ...	2010	20146850
buttercup squash provides a marketable alternative to blue hubbard as a trap crop for control of striped cucumber beetles (coleoptera: chrysomelidae).	winter squash is a vital agricultural commodity worldwide. in the northeastern united states, the primary insect pest is the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum f. using a blue hubbard squash (cucurbita maxima duchesne) perimeter trap crop system can reduce insecticide use by >90% in butternut squash (c. moschata poir), the primary winter squash grown in this region. despite the savings in insecticide costs, growers may be reluctant to give up field space for a perimeter crop of blue hubb ...	2010	22182562
insect frass as a pathway for transmission of bacterial wilt of cucurbits.	insects that vector diseases of plants are of critical concern to agriculture, but relationships between the vectors and pathogens often are poorly understood. in this study, we present research on vector relationships between the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum (f.) (coleoptera: chrysomelidae), and the pathogen that causes bacterial wilt of cucurbits, erwinia tracheiphila (smith) (enterobacteriales: enterobacteriaceae). we studied how the bacteria were retained in the gut of the beet ...	2009	19389288
using trap crops for control of acalymma vittatum (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) reduces insecticide use in butternut squash.	striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum f., is the primary insect pest of cucurbit crops in the northeastern united states. adult beetles colonize squash crops from field borders, causing feeding damage at the seedling stage and transmitting bacterial wilt erwinia tracheiphila hauben et al. 1999. conventional control methods rely on insecticide applications to the entire field, but surrounding main crops with a more attractive perimeter could reduce reliance on insecticides. a. cittatum shows ...	2009	19610425
applying imidacloprid via a precision banding system to control striped cucumber beetle (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) in cucurbits.	the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum (f.) (coleoptera: chrysomelidae), is a key pest of cucurbit crops throughout its range. a novel precision band applicator was designed to inject a solid stream of imidacloprid solution in-furrow directly over the seed during planting to reduce beetle leaf feeding on pumpkin, zucchini, and cucumber crops. in 2004 and 2005, bioassays at the cotyledon through fifth leaf were conducted on striped cucumber beetles using seedling leaf tissue grown from se ...	2009	20069855
comparison of perimeter trap crop varieties: effects on herbivory, pollination, and yield in butternut squash.	perimeter trap cropping (ptc) is a method of integrated pest management (ipm) in which the main crop is surrounded with a perimeter trap crop that is more attractive to pests. blue hubbard (cucurbita maxima duch.) is a highly effective trap crop for butternut squash (c. moschata duch. ex poir) attacked by striped cucumber beetles (acalymma vittatum fabricius), but its limited marketability may reduce adoption of ptc by growers. research comparing border crop varieties is necessary to provide opt ...	2009	19791616
pollinator and herbivore attraction to cucurbita floral volatiles.	mutualists and antagonists may place conflicting selection pressures on plant traits. for example, the evolution of floral traits is typically studied in the context of attracting pollinators, but traits may incur fitness costs if they are also attractive to antagonists. striped cucumber beetles (acalymma vittatum) feed on cucurbits and are attracted to several volatiles emitted by cucurbita blossoms. however, the effect of these volatiles on pollinator attraction is unknown. our goal was to det ...	2007	17659427
an alternative sampling technique for cucumber beetles (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) and diurnal beetle activity on muskmelon.	field studies were conducted to investigate the effectiveness of yellow sticky traps as an alternative sampling technique for striped, acalymma vittatum (f.), and spotted, diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi barber, cucumber beetles (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) and the diurnal beetle activity on muskmelon, cucumis melo l., near vincennes, in, in 2003 and 2004. the experimental design included six replications of seven 20-m-long rows each of muskmelon with 1.5 m between rows. on each sampling date, ...	2007	17598544
monitoring cucumber beetles in sweetpotato and cucurbits with kairomone-baited traps.	seven kairomone formulations (trécé, inc., salinas, ca) were evaluated for their effectiveness as attractants for luring three species of cucumber beetles into pherocon crw traps (trécé, inc.) in cucurbit and sweetpotato fields. the spotted cucumber beetle, diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi barber; the banded cucumber beetle, diabrotica balteata leconte; and the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum (f.), were captured in this study. tre8276 (tic mixture: 500 mg of 1,2,4-trimethoxybenzene, ...	2005	15765678
vittatalactone, a beta-lactone from the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum.	a novel beta-lactone, vittatalactone (1), was isolated from collections of airborne volatile compounds from feeding male striped cucumber beetles, acalymma vittatum. the structure of 1 was determined to be (3r,4r)-3-methyl-4-(1,3,5,7-tetramethyloctyl)oxetan-2-one by microderivatization, gc-ms, and nmr studies. the absolute configurations at c-2 and c-3 on the beta-lactone ring were assigned by use of the modified mosher method, applied to the beta-hydroxy acid methyl ester resulting from methano ...	2005	15679312
efficacy of piper (piperaceae) extracts for control of common home and garden insect pests.	extracts from three species of the plant family piperaceae, piper nigrum [l.], piper guineense [schum & thonn, and piper tuberculatum [jacq.], were tested for efficacy against insects from five orders. all three species contain isobutyl amides, plant secondary compounds that act as neurotoxins in insects. these materials are considered safe to mammals because piper spp. were used for centuries for spice and medicinal purposes. when 24-h p. nigrum lc50 values were compared between common insect p ...	2004	15384353
stabilization of cucurbitacin e-glycoside, a feeding stimulant for diabroticite beetles, extracted from bitter hawkesbury watermelon.	cucurbitacins are feeding stimulants for diabroticite beetles, including corn rootworms and cucumber beetles, which can be added to a bait containing an insecticide thereby reducing the levels of other insecticide treatments needed to control these pests. one of them, cucurbitacin e-glycoside, is water soluble and easily processed from mutant bitter hawkesbury watermelons (bhw) that express elevated levels of cucurbitacin. storage of bhw extract at room temperature resulted in a 92% reduction of ...	2002	15455053
effect of a phloxine b-cucurbitacin bait on diabroticite beetles (coleoptera: chrysomelidae).	cucurbitacin e glycoside, extracted from a bitter mutant of hawkesbury watermelon [citrulls lanatus (thunb.) matsum. & nakai (syn. citrullus vulgaris schrad)] is the active ingredient of a feeding stimulant for the corn rootworm complex. it is the primary component of a water-soluble bait that can be combined with toxins for adult diabroticite control. studies were conducted using phloxine b (d&c red 28), a xanthene dye, as the toxin. this dye was efficacious against diabrotica undecimpunctata h ...	2001	11561848
potential of entomopathogenic nematodes for biological control of acalymma vittatum (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) in cucumbers grown in conventional and organic soil management systems.	acalymma vittatum (f.) is the primary insect pest of fresh-market cucumber and melon crops in much of the eastern united states because of their herbivory and interactions with several diseases, most notably bacterial wilt. a study was conducted to determine how soil management affects viability and infectivity of an entomopathogenic nematode that may be used for the control of a. vittatum. dose-mortality curves under laboratory conditions suggested several steinernema spp. as potential biocontr ...	2000	10902305
yield response of pumpkin and winter squash to simulated cucumber beetle (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) feeding injury.	field studies were conducted to characterize the yield responses of pumpkin, cucurbita pepo l., and wintersquash, cucurbita maxima duch., to simulated striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittatum (f.), feeding damage. preliminary studies in pumpkin ('spookie') were conducted in 1993, and more complete studies in 1994 and 1995 in pumpkin (spookie), and in 1995 and 1996 in winter squash ('waltham'). plants were artificially injured 1 time at the cotyledon, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd true leaf stages by clippi ...	2000	14658523
pathogen-activated induced resistance of cucumber: response of arthropod herbivores to systemically protected leaves.	restricted (non-systemic) inoculation of cucurbits, green bean, tobacco, and other plants with certain viruses, bacteria, or fungi has been shown to induce persistent, systemic resistance to a wide range of diseases caused by diverse pathogens. the non-specificity of this response has fueled speculation that it may also affect plant suitability for arthropod herbivores, and there is limited evidence, mainly from work with tobacco, which suggests that this may indeed occur. young cucumber plants ...	1990	28310951
extractives of seeds of the meliaceae: effects onspodoptera frugiperda (j.e. smith),acalymma vittatum (f.), andartemia salina leach.	hexane and ethanol extracts of seeds from 22 species of plants of the family meliaceae from a number of countries were prepared. the extracts were submitted to antifeedant and toxicity bioassays utilizing fall armyworm [spodoptera frugiperda (j.e. smith)] (lepidoptera: noctuidae) larvae and striped cucumber beetle [acalymma vittatum (f.)] (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) adults. toxicity tests were also performed with brine shrimp,anemia salina leach. feeding inhibition and mortality produced by some ...	1987	24301362
identification of a volatile attractant for diabrotica and acalymma spp. from blossoms of cucurbita maxima duchesne.	fractionation of headspace volatiles from cucurbita maxima blossoms by high-performance liquid chromatography resulted in the isolation of a single component which was highly active in an electroantennogram bioassay on diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi antennae. this compound was identified as indole by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. field-trapping bioassays were conducted which indicated that indole is a potent attractant of the western corn rootworm,d. virgifera virgifera, and the stri ...	1986	24306908
biological activities oftrewia nudiflora extracts against certain economically important insect pests.	an ethanol extract oftrewia nudiflora (euphorbiaceae) seed was tested as an agent for controlling several economically important insects. results suggest that this plant extract acts as an antifeedant for the spotted cucumber beetle (diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi barber) and the european corn borer [ostrinia nubilalis (hübner)] but not for the other insects tested. also indicated were morphogenic effects on the codlingmoth [laspeyresia pomonella (l.)], disruption of the normal life cycle of ...	1982	24414952
effects of plant diversity and time of colonization on an herbivore-plant interaction.	experimental field plantings showed that plant diversity strongly affected the population dynamics of a specialist herbivore, the striped cucumber beetle, acalymma vittata (fab.) (coleoptera: chrysomelidae). population densities over time were characterized by two peaks in numbers (from colonization and reproduction, respectively) and were consistently higher in cucumber monocultures (cucumis sativus l.) than in polycultures of cucumbers, corn (zea mays l.), and broccoli (brassica oleracea l.). ...	1979	28310287
high tunnels: protection for rather than from insect pests?	high tunnels are a season extension tool creating a hybrid of field and greenhouse growing conditions. high tunnels have recently increased in the u.s. and thus research on their management is lacking. one purported advantage of these structures is protection from common field pests, but evidence to support this claim is lacking. we compared insect pest populations in high tunnels with field production over two years on three crops: tomato, broccoli and cucumber.	0	28580756