I got tired of growing pumpkins and squash that were always killed by the dreaded SVB. I found an article in Mother Earth News that explained all about the moth that lays the egg that grows into the SVB..anyway if you grow Cucurbita moshata..a type of squash that has dense solid stems they are totally immune to SVB damage. I grew a Rumbo pumpkin that was wonderful. It is actually a cross between a winter squash and pumpkin. If you read the seed catalogs that give the real botanical names you can find other types as well. The Rumbo's were delicious and beautiful too. The only thing is that you can't carve them like a jack o lantern because they are dense. I got my original seeds from Jungs but Parks used to carry them too. There are also several varieties in the Baker Creek catalog as well. I attached a link to the Rumbo so you can see it. Here is a link that might be useful: Rumbo pumpkin

Looks like SVB, if it is then it is to late for seven the grub is safe inside the lower stem. Seven is a good way to control SVB but needs to be applied carefully along the stem of the squash avoiding the flowers before the SVB starts laying eggs. Your extension agency probably has a life cycle chart of some sort for application dates. I have controlled mine through the planting of squash (Butternut)for a number of years and buying/trading, the summer and other varieties I love from others, I am a acorn lover. This seems to break up the life cycle of the mouth in my garden. I have untouched zucchini This year, but I still treated twice with seven. I hope this was of some help to you Curt~# Not a Master Gardner

I've been pretty lucky so far this year. Most of my bugs have been nuisances but not disastrous, and I've have dozens that have come for a smack but I couldn't identify. However, caterpillars decimated a good portion of my fall seedlings and have been a problem on my tomatoes and sweet potatoes. The next two or three years, I am guessing, will be bad for pests as they find my garden and establish populations. The predators will come along eventually, but they are always slower. I am doing the Happy Rain Dance right now -- I am finally getting some! It has been seriously coming down for quite a few minutes here in Madison.

For the last few days we have seen squash bugs on our bush zucchini. I have been trying (not very successfully) to remove the eggs, and the bugs were sent into a soapy water bath. The bush zucchini is in a container on the deck, all by itself. But in the main garden (40-ish feet away) we have a whole row of various squash and cucumbers. My question is this: should I leave the squash bugs alone on the bush zucchini and use it as a trap crop? I don't mind sacrificing that one plant to save the whole row. We have not seen any squash bugs in the row at all. Or should I put row cover over the bush zuc and just trap the bugs in there? There was a baby praying mantis eating the little bugs yesterday but there are way too many for it to eat them all. Also, if the bugs stay in the potting soil, does that mean that I should not reuse the soil the bush zuc is in next year? Thanks in advance for any advice.