Vegetable Crop Insect Scouting

David Owens, Extension Entomologist; owensd@udel.edu 

Peas
Scout peas for aphids. We have seen unusually high numbers of aphids in other crops. Paraphrasing from my predecessor: “On small plants, sample 10 plants in 10 locations, on larger plants, 10 sweeps…5-10 aphids per plant or 50 per sweep is a good action threshold for aphids in peas.”

Watermelon
Some of the first melon transplants are going out soon. Be advised that striped cucumber beetle may be active earlier this year than in recent years past due to the unusually warm weather.