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Florida

I have been growing pumpkins in Florida for the last 15 years or so. Anytime after early summer, I have terrible problems with a green worm pest on pumpkins (and any other curcurbit for that matter )that 1) bores into the vine mostly on the trailing end, not at the root end like a squash vine borer 2)eats the leaves of the plant and 3) will eat the skin off the pumpkin and bore into what is left. These bugs are a green worm that looks closest to an imported cabbageworm in all my gardening books. I don't have a picture but I can try to get one if that would help. For treatment, I have tried Thuricide (since they look like a cabbageworm) and Malathion and had some success, but it seems there always comes a point when there are just too many of the bugs to fight. Has anybody else had this problem or know what the bug is and how to get rid of them? Thank you for your advice.

7/8/2000 4:47:30 PM

Long Island,New York

Jim...I don't know what your bug is but lets look a bit...to be that many there's got to be eggs.Examine the areas where they like to eat...see anything? Now...to be eggs there's got to be adults somewhere....what type of butterflies and/or moths have you seen around the plants? Next time your out by the plants...look around with the intention of finding the parents. Chances are its a butterfly or moth....sorry,no answer, but thats where Id start. (Id also capture a couple and let'm grow in jars until they pupate and turn to moths/butterflies...then you'd know for sure !.....Glenn

7/8/2000 10:08:45 PM