Squash Vine Borer
Quick Facts:
Moths are about 1/2 inch long with an orange abdomen with black dots.
A squash vine borer is the larvae of a moth that feeds inside the vines and crowns of summer squash, winter squash, and pumpkins.
In Chattanooga, they are active from early-June through July.
Larvae causes yellowing of leaves and wilting.
Larvae feed through the center of stems, blocking the flow of water to the rest of the plant.
Larvae feed for four to six weeks, then exit the stems and burrow about one to two inches into the soil to pupate.
Squash vine borers spend the winter in the soil near their host plants. Practice rotation to minimize this issue by planting cucurbits in different areas of your garden (if possible) or alternate seasons when you grow cucurbits.
For in-depth information on life cycle, cultural control and behavior of squash vine borer, view this PDF from UT Extension.
Early signs of squash borer frass.
Squash bugs and squash bug eggs. They feed on plant foliage using mouthparts that let them pierce the foliage and suck plant sap. Their feeding results in plant wilt and in some cases plant death. Squash bugs target vegetable crops in the cucurbit family, such as pumpkin, squash, and melon, and can be especially aggravating to gardeners when populations reach large numbers.
