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Bemidji Minnesota

Injecting pesticides into the vine to kill SVB…

Was just reading this post here: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=6&p=208161

And I really like the idea, and I do not even have to use the air-hose needle either, as I have a decent supply of 1” 18 g needles, and 3ml syringes.

The idea of injecting the SVB holes themselves, and the vines near them, to kill the worm, sounds great.

However, what I am most concerned about is the fruit becoming toxic.

I will be growing Zucchini, as well as Blue Hubbard, and the BH is as far as I know the most vulnerable of all to the SVB, and this injection method sounds great if it kills the bugs, however, I cannot eat toxic Hubbards or Zucchini. Making them unpalatable would defeat the purpose.

So will this turn the fruit toxic as well, or will the fruits still be safe to eat?

4/25/2008 11:42:56 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

My last post to that thread sums up how I feel about the dreaded SVB but for folks who miss the window ot have chosen to not broadcast spray then site injections will work.

You need to be very careful to locate each borer entry. In which case a low impact/biorational material such as Crymax (Bt kurstaki) will work.

http://www.cdms.net/ldat/ld2R2004.pdf

For the record, Imidacloprid insecticides such as Admire are approved & used on edible squash already. Likewise Warrior for SVB adults. These insecticides don't translocate to the fruit when used as directed.

4/26/2008 1:34:48 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Thanks Tremor,

I love this part of that PDF:

Mode of Action:

"After consuming a lethal dose of Crymax, larvae will cease to feed, but may remain alive on foliage for several days before disappearing. Immediately after ingestion of Crymax larvae begin to move slowly, become discolored, shrivel and blacken PRIOR TO DEATH." --- I love that last part. They get to suffer first. };D>

So I dilute 10ml in 1 gal of water, shake, than draw up 1ml of the solution from the gallon, into the syringe, put the needle into the vine, near the borer entry, and inject?

Sounds almost too easy. I try prevention first, but last year had a real battle than involved manually using a scalpel to cut the vine, remove the little basterd, then used a piece of wire to hold the vine together.

You can only do this so many times before the vine dies however, and my Zucchini got the worst of it. No Zucchinis for me last year.

Oddly, my C. Pepo’s got it worse than the C. Maximas.

Anyhow, this time, if I see saw dust (borer poop), I will be sentence them to death via Lethal injection. Judge, Jury, and Executioner. – Expedited Justice, with no appeals.

4/26/2008 2:59:16 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

nematode injections have been used also...I can't remember who wrote about it. I think it was scott armstrong.

4/27/2008 11:41:38 AM

Commack, NY

i had done it a number of years ago. it worked as advertised. i prefer to keep them out of the vine though :)

4/29/2008 9:43:55 PM