Squash vine borer
Squash vine borer | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Sesiidae |
Genus: | Melittia |
Species: | M. cucurbitae
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Binomial name | |
Melittia cucurbitae | |
Synonyms | |
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The squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae) is a
Control
Pesticides are ineffective after the larvae are inside the plant. Gardeners find this a difficult pest to combat. Some try to avoid the pest by timing the production season to harvest before the pests can build up, or after they have peaked.[3]
Prevention includes pesticides to kill the adult moth (such use must not contaminate the flowers, as pollinators would be killed by poisoned nectar or pollen). Preventing it is difficult. One way is to extract the caterpillar from the stem of the plant.
The following organic methods of control are quite manual and may only apply to small-scale or home gardeners. BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) bacteria may be injected into the base of the stem using a syringe, to attempt to kill the larvae, ideally while still small. It should be done sometime after the first flowers start to show and possibly again after a few weeks.
A small utility knife and tweezers, or other fine tools, may be used to gently cut open the stem and try to extract the larva. Look for a hole in the stem with frass coming out of it. The larva is usually several inches above that point. If this is done in a gentle enough way, and before the moth has caused extensive damage, the exposed stem may be covered with soil, allowing the plant to re-establish roots higher up on the stem, and the plant may be saved.
Organic controls include wrapping the lower stem with
Once larvae are present within the stems, control must be quick. Often, the first noticed sign of the infestation is wilting of the vine, and it is too late for control efforts at that point. Experienced gardeners watch the stems for signs of frass protruding from small holes, which is an indicator of the presence of the larva inside. Some gardeners carefully cut the stem along its axis and remove the caterpillar before it ruins the vine. Others use a stiff wire, a needle, or a toothpick to kill the borer without seriously injuring the vine.[3]
Gallery
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Often, frass on the stem of a squash plant is the first symptom of infestation. The second symptom follows soon - the death of the plant.
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Zucchini squash plant stem cut open to show borers
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Life cycle
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Larva
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Damage
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Another detail shot of borer in a zucchini stem
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Adult
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Adult
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Melittia cucurbitae
References
- ^ "Checklist of the Sesiidae of the World". Sesiidae. July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- . Retrieved 2022-07-14.
- ^ a b c "Squash Vine Borer Management in Home Gardens". University of Minnesota – Extension. Retrieved November 11, 2014.