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Illinois

I am a first-time grower who planted Connecticut Field Pumpkins this season. Everything was going okay except I was having a problem with fruit set. I now may have one or two fruit finally setting (I hand-pollinated them yesterday). However, I noticed a red moth hovering around the plants yesterday. After doing research and reading the posts on this great website I now know about the dreaded vine borer. I inspected the base of my plants and probably most if not all of my plants are infected (I have a total of six plants). I sprayed an insecticide on the plants last night to kill any eggs and also the cucumber beetles. Is my growing season over? Is there anything I can do? I don't really see any symptoms other than the plants start wilting in the heat of the day in full sun. If I spray water on them, they perk up. There is no wilting other than in the heat of the day. We are having temps in the mid 90's. Is it normal to have some wilting in the full sun heat of the day, or is that a first symptom of vine borer damage? Thanks for your help. This site is great and I'm realizing this season is a learning experience for me so that I can do it right next season.

7/31/2001 10:52:39 AM

Eureka, Ca

Yesterday I came out of the garden and into the house looking pale. My wife asked what was wrong. I said; I saw him. Saw whom? She replied. The dreaded vine borer, I answered.
From my research I knew what it was. Hideous looking things. I too doused the plants and can now only hope for the best.

8/1/2001 10:04:04 AM

Long Island,New York

You think YOU looked pale? Just wait til Hester,Larue,Holland, Mombert and co see this post...up til now they were only found east of the Rockies.......so, either your so paranoid you THINK you saw one..or they are now over the hills known as the rockies. Im hoping it was something else you saw and unless you see it again and get a real positive I.D on it I would suggest you sit down, take a few breaths, crack open a cold one and raise your glass to the Rockies. Thank God you dont have them.....G

8/1/2001 4:20:48 PM

Eureka, Ca

LI, I hope it was something else too. When I went for the spray and came back it was gone. I saw it flying and wondered what the hell is that. When it landed on the fence is when I saw the red and "vine borer went through my head"
I am very glad to hear they are not out on the west coast. Must have been paranoia.

It was about an inch long, black bodied with red on its lower part, it flew around with its butt lower than it's head. It sure looked the picture I saw and have never seen one before

8/1/2001 5:43:41 PM

Liverpool , England

Yo Glenn,
On the bright side, the little buggers cannot fly the Atlantic yet.

Alun

8/1/2001 9:03:19 PM

Long Island,New York

Alun...my wife's going over to London in October...I'll send some with her.......G

8/1/2001 10:54:59 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Im going to start a squash Borer Farm in the UK next Spring.

hahaha

8/1/2001 11:03:49 PM

Ga.

I'm east of the rockies,,but have not seen one yet,,,(jeff352) sits here thinking and keeping his fingers crossed,,,need to see a pic,,,me look right now,,,

8/2/2001 10:19:40 AM

Ga.

I see the white worm,,but no pic of a moth that makes the worm,,,would someone be so kind to send me a pic of the moth to my email if possible,,,,Please.....ajandta@earthlink.net

8/2/2001 10:24:49 AM

Eureka, Ca

Jeff, search "Squash vine borer" in a search engine and lots of web sites with pics come up

8/2/2001 12:00:38 PM

Ga.

ok,,,I think he been in my best vine,,,I found a dead leaf ,,,seems to have been dead for a while,,looks like something went inside the stem,,only thing inside was a pincher bug,,,,the leaf was near the base of the plant,,had a brown residue inside the stem where entrance was,,,the vine looks great,,think I got 2 ag's to set,,,only problem is they are side by side on main vine,,,hope they make it,,if this describes the squash borer ,,,let me know,,hehe,,,and I thought I was the lucky easterner,,,hehhe

8/2/2001 3:05:56 PM

CT

Jeff,
Sounds like he's in there some place. Describes what they look like on my plant to a T.

8/2/2001 6:14:08 PM

Connecticut, USA

Just lost my main vines and stumps to the same description. The brown junk in the hole is a dead give away!

8/2/2001 6:57:28 PM

Connecticut, USA

BTW,

For a picture of the moth, check out the Riverview School Kids diary entry for 6/13/2001.

For great (or not so great) shots of worm damage, check out Bruiser's Photo Gallery Entries...

A search on this site for "vine borer" yeilds 87 entries!

8/2/2001 7:01:45 PM

Ga.

will Diazinon kill the dreaded squash vine borer???????????

8/2/2001 8:12:42 PM

Liverpool , England

Yo Glenn and CC,
Thanks very much, and Glenn I'l keep an eye out for the evil one..and the borer..lol

Alun

8/2/2001 8:52:03 PM

Herndon, VA

Jeff- Like Desnowskeer said, they're in there! The brown stuff is a dead giveaway. You need to split the vine and remove it. Spraying insecticide will not work because it won't get into the plant. A systemic insecticide may help fight them, but if it's already in there (and it sounds like it is) you need to remove it the good 'ol fashioned way.

Split the vine lengthwise with a razor blade & follow the brown stuff to the borer. Then clean out as much goop as you can & hit it with fungicide. Depending on the damage, the vine may recover. --Bruiser

8/2/2001 11:08:04 PM

Dear First time grower, It looks like you need to mist your pumpkin plants a couple of times a day.

8/18/2001 6:01:23 PM