Differences in Infestation of Pubescent and Glabrous Forms of Cucumber by Pickleworms and Melonworms1

Abstract

Pickle worm [Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll)] and melon worm [Diaphania hyalinata (L.)] moths, released into a screenhouse, laid far more eggs on pubescent than on glabrous plants of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). In a field test of the 2 foliage types, a total of 8 times as many melonworm larvae were found on pubescent as glabrous plants, but about the same number of pickle worm larvae were found on both types. Both melonworm and pickleworm moths laid approximately equal numbers of eggs on fiberglass insulation treated with ethanol extracts of the 2 foliage types, suggesting that the presence or absence of pubescence on the leaves determined oviposition preference.