COOL-SEASON COVER CROPS RELAY INTERCROPPED WITH CANTALOUPE - INFLUENCE ON A GENERALIST PREDATOR, GEOCORIS-PUNCTIPES (HEMIPTERA, LYGAEIDAE)

Cool-season cover crops were used in efforts to enhance densities of entomophagous insects on relay-intercropped spring plantings of cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Seringe). Eight cover-cropping regimes, including a weedy fallow control, were tested in a replicated trial. Cover crop significantly affected densities of the predominant predator, a bigeyed bug, Geocoris punctipes (Say), amid cover crops, on or near cantaloupe plants, and on or near sentinel egg masses of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) pinned to cantaloupe leaves. No significant difference was found for proportions of egg masses occupied or damaged by predators. For all indices of predator abundance and efficiency, absolute responses were highest for the plots of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L., 'Mt. Barker'). Numbers of G. punctipes per sentinel egg mass were significantly greater for the subterranean clover regime than for rye, crimson clover, and a polyculture of six cover crops, but were not significantly greater than for 'Vantage' vetch or the weedy fallow control plots. Rye showed particularly low densities of G. punctipes. Cover crops had no apparent effect on densities of aphids or whiteflies (Homoptera: Aphididae, Aleyrodidae) on cantaloupe leaves.