The South Florida Pest and disease hotline reports from growers and scouts in Florida on pests, diseases, and growing conditions in cucurbits and other vegetable crops.
Respondents around Southwest Florida are reporting widespread issues with downy mildew in squash. Downy mildew is also widely present in Homestead on squash and oriental cucurbits. Control of downy mildew on cucurbits is achieved primarily by the use of resistant varieties and/or fungicide spray programs
In Southwest Florida, growers and scouts are seeing many whitefly adults in melons and other vegetables. Immatures are present in older plantings and reports indicate that weather conditions have temporarily reduced populations which are expected to rebound when warm temperatures return. Whitefly management options include scouting for pests and proper field hygiene. Caterpillar pressure remains at low levels with a few melonworms seen in cucurbits.
Reports from Southern Florida indicate that melonworms are present in some specialty cucurbits and squash. Growers and scouts report that the group 28 diamide insecticides do not seem to be providing control for as long as they previously did. Consult the UF/IFAS Vegetable Production Handbook for labeled products. Other reports indicate that cucumber beetles are widespread and a few aphids are starting to show up in squash on the East Coast.
