For the past five years, squash bugs (anasa tristis) have become increasingly challenging to control in florida watermelons

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Utah State University $299,630 on September 15, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (CFDA 10.310) to investigate biological control programs for squash bugs in watermelon and cucurbit production.

The project addresses squash bug (Anasa tristis) management challenges in Florida watermelons and Utah cucurbits, where current practice relies on broad-spectrum insecticides that harm pollinators and reduce yield in pollinator-dependent crops. The recipient will conduct three lines of work: surveying egg parasitoids of squash bugs in Utah and Florida through sentinel egg mass studies; improving diagnostic tools for parasitoids using morphological and molecular data; and evaluating the biological performance of dominant egg parasitoid species across three common Coreidae to assess potential as a biological control agent. The research builds on recent molecular findings that revealed the most common squash bug egg parasitoid, previously classified as a single species (Hadronotus pennsylvanicus), actually represents two distinct species—one in the eastern U.S. and one in the western U.S.

Performance occurs at Logan, Utah. The period of performance runs from September 15, 2026, through September 14, 2028. This is a project grant, a competitive research funding mechanism under AFRI supporting foundational and applied agricultural science.

Similarly, squash bugs represent a major pest in utah cucurbits (winter squash, summer squash, pumpkins). Current management practices mainly rely on chemical control, specifically broad-spectrum insecticides, as they are more affordable than products with higher selectivity. Cucurbits are pollinator-dependent crops. Consequently, repeated insecticide sprays can lead to pollinator decline and yield loss. Our goal is to investigate the potential of biological control programs to mitigate the effects associated with insecticides. Several parasitoid surveys have been done on squash bugs in other cucurbit production areas. Recent molecular studies revealed that the most common squash BUG EGG parasitoid species encountered, hadronotus pennsylvanicus, actually represents two species, one present in the eastern U.S. (h. Pennsylvanicus (sensu stricto)) and one present in the western U.S. (h. Atriscapus). Thus, investigating the squash BUG EGG parasitoid complex in these two regions will allow US to accurately identify and further characterize candidates for biological control programs. This project aims to: 1) survey the EGG parasitoid of squash bugs in utah and florida through a sentinel EGG mass study; 2) improve diagnostic tools for parasitoids associated with squash bugsusing morphology and molecular data; 3) evaluate the biological performance of the dominant EGG parasitoid species among three common coreidae to assess its potential as a biological control agent.