Squash Vine Borer

The squash borer belongs to the clearwing moth family. Also in this category are peach tree borer, raspberry crown borer, and lilac borer.

Adults are 1" to 1 1/4"; larvae are less than 1". Tiny flat brown eggs are usually laid singly near the bases of stems. they look like chocolate pellets only flattened. Larvae are white with a brown head. Forewings of adults are black, hind wings are transparent with black veins. The abdomen is fuzzy, bright orange, and covered in black spots. Hind legs are fuzzy, orange, and black.

Crops affected are mostly members of the cucurbit family especially summer and Hubbard squash and some pumpkins.

Signs of a borer are sudden stem wilt and messy punctures or cracks at the base of a plant. Their prescence threatens home garden mostly meaning no squash or pumpkins. They are seldom in numbers large enough to harm commercial crops. The adults are most active in late May and June. A second brood appears in July and August. In zones 6 and less, one brood usually occurs.

To prevent heavy infestation, rotate crops and use lightweight row covers until flowering. Cultivate soil in autumn to bring overwintering stage to the surface. Remove all crop residues at the end of the growing season, dust the base of the plant regularly with rotenone, inject Bt into the stems, or handpick the caterpillars by cutting open the stem and killing the caterpillar. You may can save your plant doing this if you catch it in time. Also, if you can, find varieties resistant to borers.

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