Re: squash bug defense
Liz
Those are not Squash vine borer eggs. Not that it matters. Just so you know
were they are and how to find them will help in your spraying technique. Which is
almost an art. The eggs are laid individually on the stems, under vines, and
under
the tenials. The eggs in a mass(on top of a leaf) are some other insect worthy of
your
sprayer. During heavy moth activity I sprayed liquid seven as often as every 3
days.
At a dose of 1 oz per gallon and heavy application on all stems, and vines, some
damage
occurred only on very young growing leaves {it was tolerable} Old growth had no
visible
ill affects. I reduced my dosage to 1oz per 2 gallons and saw no damage on young
growth.
The great infestation of adult moths {in my area} started on June 16th and ended
on July 10th.
Last year I used beneficial natural predators {Trichogramma and beneficial
Nematodes}.
The borers got into the vine and multiplied very well to greatly enhance this
years battle.
If you don't control them in one year, the next year you are really in for it! I
also found that
by opening up the spray nozzle and hitting the active moths as many times as
possible,
although not immediate, would kill them in a day or so. Did you know that an egg
laying
moth can take 5 to 7 direct hits of liquid seven, take a little rest and then
continue laying eggs?
go figure, if you can knock em done hard with the spray, be very quick with your
foot.
Eggs hatch in 5 to 7 days. If you spray enough, were the eggs are, they won't
hatch or will
die when they do, not entering the vine.
If you think you blew it, a Systemic insecticide may be able to penetrate the
plant and kill them.
I had Cygon as a back up plan which it doesn't look like I need. Systemic
insecticides are much
more toxic and if used nothing can be eaten from the plant, not even the seeds.
Although some
top growers use them I don't recommend the use of Systemic insecticides,
Just POOR ON THE SEVEN.
Ray
North of Chicago
Zilclout@aol.com wrote:
> I have been battling squash bugs for the past few weeks and I have two
> questions:
>
> Sevin seems to help control them but we keep getting rain several times per
> week. How often can I reapply Sevin? Can too much Sevin hurt the plants?
>
> Yesterday I found small copper-colored eggs on top of one of the pumpkin
> leaves. They were in a highly organized little clump. Are these the eggs of
> the pesky squash bugs or some other pest that I have to figure out how to
> eliminate?!
>
> Thanks!
> Liz
> Minnetrista, MN
>
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