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Re: Cukes and Squash Vine Borers?

On Sun, 12 Jul 1998 13:44:18 +0000, you wrote:

>Can you tell me what the borers look like?  
>
>holly zone 5
>zacwinic@netnitco.net
Yes.  From the U of MD, Cooperative Extension Service:  "The moths are
medium in size with olive-brown forewings (1 1/2" or 38mm wingspan),
transparent hind wings & an abdomen ringed with red or orange, black &
bronze bands.  They are often mistaken for wasps because the wasplike
moth flies swiftly & noisily about the plants during the daytime.  The
larva is a thick, white, wrinkled, brown-headed caterpillar (abt 1" or
25mm long) with six short, slender legs on the thorax & 5 prs of
prolegs.  Small larvae usually are found tunneling out the inner
tissues of leaf stems near the base of the plant.  Later in the
season, older larvae are located thruout the stems & sometimes in the
fruit.  The 1st indication that the borer is present is the sudden
wilting of 1 runner or the entire plant.  Inspectiiion of the wilted
vine usually reveals masses of carse greenish-yellow excrement pushed
out of holes in the vines.  Infested vines often are completely
girdled & ususlly rot & die beyond the point of attack."


The control is:  "Use a razor to slit stem & remove borers.  Mound
soil over the wound.  Cover plants with a floating row cover.  Remove
during bloom to ensure pollination.  Do not spray insecticides when
bees are active."

HTH
Judy (zone 7, close-in SS, MD)
to e-mail me:  jcosler@mindspring.com
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