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Vegetable Gardening

Squash Vine Borer Eggs?

16 years ago

Hi,

I know what the adult moth looks like, I know what the larva looks like, I know what the "attack" site looks like.

What I don't know and can't seem to find is a photo of the eggs.

Do they lay one egg? Or many in a cluster? Does one moth lay more than one egg but one egg at different spots on the plant? Can anyone direct me to photos on the internet? I did a search last night but all I came up with was the adult and the critter once inside the stem.

I saw 2 adults on my BEAUTIFUL, healthy looking pumpkin plant yesterday so now I know I need to be on the lookout. I'd like to try to stop them before they get into the stem if I can.

Thanks

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Comments (3)

digdirt2
16 years ago
Eggs are a single flat oval, dull-reddish brown in color, and very small (1/25 inch) in diameter. Use your magnifying glass. ;)

According to most of the research sites they lay eggs on shady part of stems near the base, but a few can also be found on leafstalks or on the undersides of leaves. New mother's are sloppy egg-layers. ;)

Eggs hatch in 9 to 14 days. Larvae enter the stem at the plant base within a few hours after hatching from the eggs.

I can't find a picture either as most sites seem to use the Ohio State info/pics and they are just drawings.

Good luck.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: SVB
iacche
16 years ago
I can spot them pretty easily. A single deep brown dot on the pale green leaves and stems. The dark green of the base of the zucchini is tougher. And there are little spots among the flower stems and such that are tricky.

My control methods:
1. catch and kill moths if I can (a butterfly net helps, but they're quick)
2. check for eggs every few days (check for squash bug clusters at the same time.
3. dust the vines once a week or so with rotenone, which (hopefully) will kill any larvae that hatch from eggs I missed. I don't like using rotenone that much, so I use a paintbrush to dust the vines. A paintbrush helps you get the powder just where you want it, without it going everwhere.
4. Look daily for signs of borer activity (a moist sawdust-like stuff coming out of a hole near the base of the plant), so I have a chance to cut open the vine and kill the borer before it does too much damage.

It's a pain, but I like squash.
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This is what squash vine borer eggs look like
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Comments (28)
Yes - I too would concur those are SVB eggs. I removed a bunch off my own plants today and although I covered them after that, I was apparently not quicker than the moth which seems to have arrived at least 5 days earlier this season. The eggs can indeed appear ANYWHERE on the plant, and I found them on the stems and undersides of the leaves, and also near the plant's base. I used sticky tape to remove anything I could find, then covered my whole squash "situation" with lightweight remay fabric. I will hand-pollinate throughout July to get past SVB season in CT. I am also going to plant more bush variety zucchini tomorrow to ensure a late harvest. And while I am out in the garden tending and weeding, I will thoroughly enjoy murdering those little friggers.
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Comments (73)
cmonkey :I've thought the same thing too, and remember trying to figure out what they mean by "wild cucurbits". tigrikt - Thanks for posting that article. I love reading those old articles and seeing what people did a long time ago. I had to google "Cymlings" as I had no idea what he was talking about... they are another name for "Pattypan"... interesting. I always wonder what the Native americans did, when they grew pumpkins. I bet they probably had some good tricks they used. Its interesting how the articles names these different pesticides they recommend. Looking them up, they are all banned now for home use for being too toxic. Its a wonder our ancestors didn't all die of cancer and poisoning with all these chemicals they used! I like the idea of an "ovicide". I wonder if we have anything now in modern times would not be very toxic but could do the same thing. Would be a lot easier to just spray the vines than hand pick the eggs.
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Comments (9)
Here is what I do also.... I have a syringe I got from a printer cartridge refill kit. I inject BT solution into the stems when I see any signs of damage. One of the best indicators of damage is when vines start looking swollen and start yellowing. Obviously frass is another sign. (but that almost a bit too late) Instead of cutting the plant a lot and causing it much damage, I do this (I saw this on Youtube) : When you see frass, or when you see a swollen yellowing part of the vine (that also indicates they are in there). Then open a small hole in the vine with a small knife... pretty small no bigger than a pencil. If frass is coming out then the hole is already there but you might try to make it slightly larger. Then inject some soap solution (water and ivory soap mixture). I have done it with my needle, but saw a guy use a spray bottle on "jet" mode, and spray it up the hole. The borer will either be forced to come out of the hole, where you can kill it, or the soap will kill it.
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Comments (11)
When I drop eggs while picking off SVB eggs, I usually just throw a few handful of soil around where I think it fell,and move on. Judging from the size of the egg, the newborn larva must be tiny and I really doubt it would be able to work its way out of being covered by dirt and then find a plant to start boring into. Being in zone 8B, I would wait because you have the dog days of summer coming, and they usually don't produce much in the heat. I'm in the Dallas area. I'll start my fall planting around mid-August, under row covers. I use tulle netting for protection.
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shellva
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks Dave and Iacche for your help. I killed a little tiny worm/whatever they are called just starting to bore into the stem today.

Do you think diatomaceous earth would work? The paint brush idea was a great one.

Michelle

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