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Can't find the pumpkin pest!!

9 years ago

Help!
My pumpkins seem to be doing really well, but I'm finding pest damage. I can't, however, find the pest. I haven't seen an aphid in months. No beetles. No grubs. No worms. I even have the ants under control. Everyday, I go out to the garden, and there is more damage.

Please help.

Cheers.

Allan

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Comments (9)

onap1
Original Author
9 years ago
More Pics
jean001a
9 years ago
Please show us the entire leaf.

By the way, I suspect that's normal coloration for the leaf.
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Sammy I was actually thinking the praying mantis. You can get praying mantis egg sacks. Each comes with 200 eggs. And because praying mantises can't fly they stay in your garden. The downside is that I fear they will snatch ladybugs and the bees, but the sad part is that all the bees, even the native ones have been missing since mid-July. The only ladybug I saw was in May. All I get are these nasty flies, thrips and the cucumber beetles visiting. All a sad reminder how important it is to protect our bees from Sevin. Anyway I think a praying mantis would be terrific in my situation. Hopefully the birds won't find the mantis but I think 200 eggs and its camouflage are good odds for it. I am lucky in that my flowers still look very pretty and I only get a few sprinkling of holes in some. But one never knows with insects and fungus, sometimes they just suddenly infest out-of-the-blue. I am sure the praying mantis will be very happy with the thrips and the houseflies that keep visiting my fragrant roses (ugggh, shudder!). Flies are another one of my most hated insects because they're filthy scavengers, which is why I always curb my dog. I hate! flies and that's my ultimate prissiness speaking.
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onap1
Original Author
9 years ago
First leaf
onap1
Original Author
9 years ago
Pretty sure you're right on the leaf color. They are the Fairy Tale pumpkins, and I've seen that leaf color in this variety before.
missingtheobvious
9 years ago
I agree that the leaf coloration is normal; it's typical of many varieties.

The holes -- particularly in the first photo -- look to me like what's called "mechanical damage." Think of it as the leaf being battered by something (could be rain, hail, other plants, kids' toys, careless people or animals -- or perhaps only wind) and/or being battered against something (plant stakes, fence, ground, container or raised bed walls, other plants, etc.).

If it were insect damage, there would be more leaf surface missing.

If it were disease damage, there would be visible abnormalities or general decline in all parts of the plant or over the entire plant.

This post was edited by missingtheobvious on Wed, Oct 1, 14 at 23:32
jean001a
9 years ago
Hmm. Only one very close-up image was available when I posted.

I think the suggestion about mechanical damage is correct. In fact, I would suspect hail if the slits and tears were more widespread on the leaf.
onap1
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the quick response. I thought mechanical damage, but the yellowing worried me.

This is a leaf that I know was damaged in a recent storm.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
i understand you live in AZ and all ...

but even there.. its going on late fall ...

i wish.. back when i grew gourds ... the leaves of my plants looked that good this time of year ... they usually being PMd to death.. after the onslaught of the common bugs of which i am forgetting .. lol ... probably stinkbugs ...

last pic.. just above.. is what hosta leaves look like after a hail storm ...

as far as i am concerned... other than the quest for knowledge.. there is nothing to do here .... but watch them decline for the season .... IMHO ...

ken
onap1
Original Author
9 years ago
I'll hold out hope. Forecast is almost 100 degrees this weekend. Should be 80+ for another month.

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