Garden Insects - Squash Vine Borer
Squash Vine Borers or simply "Vine Borers" are one of the most dreaded
insects for pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, and watermelon plants.
An infestation of Squash Vine Borers (abbreviated SVB's) spells a quick end
to your season for these crops. And, it may hardly qualify as an "infestation".
All it takes is one or two SVBs per plant. Vine borers drill into vines,
most often near the base of the plant. Once inside, they eat the vine away,
ultimately severing the vine.
If Squash Vine Borers exist in your area, then the use of insecticides is
all but a necessity when growing members of the Cucurbita family. They include
pumpkins squash, watermelon, and cucumbers.
The female lays her eggs on the underside of leaves. The eggs hatch and the
larva (grub-like insect) travels down the leaf stem. It then bores a hole
to enter the vine. Once inside, it is surrounded by food....your vine!
Signs of Squash Vine Borer Infestation:
Here are the key signs that you have a vine borer infestation:
If you have a healthy crop, and it begins to wilt, vine borers could be the
problem.
If the fruit is growing, then unexpectedly stops, you may have SVBs.
Upon inspection of the vine, you find holes and/or sawdust-like material
on the vine, you definitely have Squash Vine Borers.
Squash Vine Borer Prevention:
If vine borers exist in your area, we highly recommend preventing these insects
from affecting your crops. That means using insecticides.
Not all insecticides will be effective. Read the back of the insecticide
label, to be absolutely certain that it is effective against them. Follow
the instructions on the label carefully for application rates, method, and
frequency of use.
Insecticides need to be applied early, before the grub-like larva enters
the vine.
Extracting Vine Borers:
Once a vine borer enters the vine, insecticides can not reach it. The only
thing you can do, is to remove it. Leaving it inside you vine is not an
alternative. Removing it can cause further harm to the plant.
To extract the vine borer, find the entry hole. Use a sharp knife and
slowly slice lengthwise, up and down the vine, until you spot the vine borer.
Remove the borer with the tip of your knife and destroy it. There could be
more than one in the vine. So, search for more.
After "surgery", apply a fungicide to the wound. With a little luck, your
season has been saved!
More Information:
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