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Squash Vine Borer
How to Identify and Get Rid of Squash Vine Borers
How to Identify and Get Rid of Squash Vine Borers
Squash vine borer, by Massiv99: Wikimedia Commons
Are your squash plants suddenly struggling? It could be the work of a squash vine borer. Here are tips on how to identify, control, and get rid of the squash vine borer!
What are Squash Vine Borers?
It can be so disappointing when your squash is thriving and suddenly starts to wilt. The culprit is probably the squash vine borer. The plants wilt because larvae is boring (burrowing) into the lower part of the stems.
Found throughout the eastern United States, squash vine borers attack squash, zucchini, pumpkins, and gourds. They prefer Hubbard squash and are not as fond of butternut squash. Other cucurbits, like cucumbers and melons, are not usually affected.
The borers overwinter in soil as pupae in cocoons. When the adult clearwing moths emerge in early to mid-summer, they lay eggs singly or in small groups at the base of plant stems. The eggs will hatch within 1 to 2 weeks of being laid. The larvae will then bore into stems to feed for about 2 to 4 weeks; sometimes they may also bore into the fruit. In northern areas of North America, there is one generation per year; in southern areas, there may be 2 generations.
If caught early, it’s possible to save the plant. If caught after the eggs hatch, it may be too late. Controlling the squash vine borer is mainly about prevention.
Identification
How to Identify Squash Vine Borers
- Eggs: The eggs are tiny, flat, oval, and brown. The eggs are laid scattered around the bases of squash and pumpkin plants.
- Larvae: If you slit open a stem lengthwise with a fine, sharp knife, you will see the borer larva, which has a fat, white, wrinkled body and brown head; it can grow to about an inch long.
- Moth: The adult is a moth about ½ inch long that looks a bit like a wasp with a black body, marked with orange-red. The hind wings are transparent and the front wings are metallic green.
If you see the adult squash vine borer moth, beware that it is probably laying eggs! Photo Credit: University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Identifying Squash Vine Borer Damage
- First, the leaves of the plant will probably start to wilt.
- Look for holes at the base of the plant and green to orange-yellow sawdust-like “frass” (droppings).
- Squash vine borers feed on the material inside the stems of the plants. The stem will start to rot at the site of the feeding first.
Squash vine borer larvae can cause major damage to the inside of your squash plant stem. Photo Credit: Donn Cooper, University of Georgia.
Control and Prevention
How to Get Rid of Squash Vine Borers
- If you catch them VERY early, you can manually remove the squash vine borer. Slit the lower stem lengthwise with a fine, sharp knife to remove the larva by hand. One plant can house several larvae. After removal, cover the slit stem section with moist soil above the point of injury to promote formation of secondary roots. Also, extra rich soil near the vines helps rerooting.
- Or, if you spot entrance holes and “sawdust,” try inserting a wire and thread through the stem for some distance to kill the inside larvae.
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the stalks when the squash vines are small. Reapply after rain. Also, build up the soil around the vines. Or, sprinkle black pepper around the plants as a defense.
- If possible, catch and destroy the moths at twilight or in early morning when they are resting on the upper side of leaf bases.
- There are insecticides, too, but timing is critical; they are only truly effective when applied at the time that eggs are hatching.
- The bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis v. kustaki (Bt) is a natural insecticide that can be injected into and applied to the squash stems, however, it is not usually effective because the larvae are protected inside the plant.
- Many find carbaryl (Sevin) to work, too.
- Consult your local cooperative extension service for advice on appropriate chemical controls.
- Trap the adult orange moths with yellow sticky traps and yellow-colored bowls of soapy water.
- A trap crop of very early-planted Hubbard squash can be used to alleviate pest pressure on other squash.
- Plant extra squash for the pests! They are around for 6 to 8 weeks and can only eat so much (or, so we think!).
- An old folk remedy from The 1963 Old Farmer’s Almanac says that wood ashes were effective against the squash vine borer.
Larvae of the squash vine borer can destroy cucurbit stems if not controlled and prevented. Photo Credit: Lee Jenkins, University of Missouri Extension.
Prevent Squash Vine Borers
- Sometimes the best solution is to start your squash as early as possible. This way you’ll be harvesting before the summer time when vine borers become active. If you plant early, you may need to be prepared to cover your plants in case of frost.
- Do not plant squash in the same bed two years in a row. Squash vine borers overwinter in cocoons in the soil. Also, clean up ALL debris and clean up your soil in the fall.
- As soon as the squash is harvested, get rid of the vines. Till the soil in the fall and spring to get rid of overwintering pupae.
- Preventative measures include covering the stems with a barrier, such as strips of nylon stockings or aluminum foil, to prevent egg laying.
- Adding parasitic wasps to your garden prior to the egg stage can be helpful as these wasps are the borers’ natural enemy.
- One of the better solutions is to cover crops with floating row covers to prevent egg laying (but only if you are sure there aren’t pupae overwintering in the soil). You can also drape these row covers over frames. This will not only give you a head start over pests but protect your plants from strong heat and frost.
- If you give up on zucchini, which is susceptive to vine borers, try growing a squash that’s more resistant such as Cucuzzi (Lagenaria siceraria), also known variously as the snake gourd; it’s pale green and twists and spirals like a snake.
Learn about another main squash and zucchini predator: the squash bug.
Do you have any tips for controlling these pests? Let us know in the comments below!
Plants Affected
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Reader Comments
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Row covers!!!
We have both yellow squash and zucchini for the first time in years. In the past, both were attacked by squash bugs and then finished off with vine borers. This year, new locations were selected and an inexpensive bolt of tulle was purchased to create 'row covers'. The 54" width was not enough, so edges were stapled together around some string and left over stakes provided support. Then, duck tape was used to remove some early squash bug eggs. Hand pollination is required, but we finally have enough for ourselves and enough to share. I felt strangely happy when I found eggs deposited on the outside of the tulle! The bugs gave it a good try!
So frustrating
Every summer since I moved to Western Massachusetts, which has been the past 6, my squash plants have been destroyed by these pests. I got one zucchini out of 6 plants a couple of weeks ago, and not one since. The plants still look healthy and blossoming, but aren’t producing; and have the tell tale “frass” on the stems where the vine borers have entered the vine. I’m wondering if I should replace the soil in my garden? Or, should I make container garden beds? It’s so disappointing to watch all of your hard work and money and time get destroyed by these little jerks!
Adults still active in late July
Zone 7/ OKC. I am still finding adult moths on my plants as of tonight (July 24th 2019) I was under the impression that the life cycle was limited to early summer but I lost all of my summer squashes planted in April/May and 3/4 of my cantaloupes planted in early July are already infested. I'm going to try the yellow traps next.
Yellow water traps don't discriminate
I also am experiencing the borer moths in Late July, in Northeast Massachusetts. I tried the yellow water, but only found five dead bees. So I won't be doing that again as they are definitely not my target
Vine Borers
Don't give up! Slice open the base of the stem and pull those little jerks out! Place them in a mason jar of water with some dish detergent, they will die. Then press the two side of the stem back together and bury it with soil. Your plant will feel better and start producing within days!
Spray bottle with dishwashing liquid
I reused an empty Bonide blossom hormone spray bottle (the large one) for use as an emergency bug killer. The spray nozzle has 2 settings; wide and narrow spray. Any spray bottle with an adjustable spray nozzle would probably work but it helps if you find one that moves a bunch of liquid with one squeeze...like a powerful squirt gun.
Using 1 tsp of Dawn dish detertent into a quart of water, I filled the spray bottle and keep it hanging in a spot that enables me to grab it while I keep my eye on the borer moth. Like how you would mount a fire extinguisher...easy to grab and right where it's needed.
Using the narrow spray pattern, blast the moth as soon as it settles on the plant. I get them about half of the time. Using a strong surfactant like Dawn can burn the plant, so don't go nuts and spray the whole plant. Rinse the soap off of leaves if you can.
Update: Killed another borer
Update: Killed another borer moth today.
The circumstances went against everything I've read about finding squash vine borer moths.
It wasn't early morning or evening when I found the moth...it was early afternoon, mid-80s, humid and sunny.
It appeared to be oblivious or indifferent to my nearby movement so I was able to take careful aim and kill it with one blast and another as it lay in the dirt.
The eggs weren't so much near the soil line and on the main stem, but they were everywhere...tops and bottoms of leaves, leaf stems, adjacent blades of grass...very random, except that the eggs were indeed laid individually.
Shape of moth at rest.
P.S.:
The shape of the moth at rest was like this:
Its wings were tight against its body, giving it a stout, oval shape.
It was about 3/4" long and maybe a little more than 1/4" wide.
The black/orange colors made it easy to spot.
Good luck!
Thank you
Thank you for sharing your experiences to help the OFA community. Sincerely, your OFA editors
squash bores
I put tinfoil around the base of the plant, supposedly the reflection confuses the bore of entrance. Don't know where I read this years ago, but it seems to work!
Vine Borers
Here's something I tried last year that seemed to work well, so I'm doing it again this year. I am using glass head pins, the ones with the ball at the top of the pin. I put the pin in the crook of the stem going down in the stem, sometimes it will go through, but mostly I try to get it in to the stem. I put 2 or 3 in each plant. This way, if the vine borer has/does invade the base of the squash it won't really be able to grow due to the pin.
Now, if I can figure out how to get rid of the squash bugs, I'd be happy, and have squash!
Squash vine borers
I’ve also had the displeasure of the destructive vine borers in Huntsville, Alabama. I did move my plant location last year and had great results from diatomaceous earth. I stayed on top of sprinkling the powder on the squash plants after it rained. It definitely helped a lot. I’ve used it this year too, but we’ve had a lot of rain the last several days so the diatomaceous earth was washed off. I was working in my garden today and spotted one of the evil little moths! I’ll be checking my plants better tomorrow.
SVB...Preventative Maintenance
So I’ve been on the lookout for these guys.
My Dad told me about them and his plight with the wilt they cause. While out in our garden, I spotted the little jerk, and sprayed it with wasp spray. After that I inspected all of my squash plants and removed around 40 reddish brown eggs. So I promptly put them in a bleach solution. I know there will be more. But I’m ready. This is my first year growing squash by the way. And sadly enough I’m doing it without my dad. He passed away 3 weeks ago today, before we could plant the garden. But it’s okay. His memory and guidance carries on. Good luck everybody.
Borers
So sorry about your dad. Wish I heard of borers, but I see they have ruined my zucchini. This was my first attempt growing it. Well next time I will be on the lookout.
Borers
My condolences on losing your Dad. He was no doubt a wonderful father who enjoyed teaching you about the wonders of nature & love of seeing things grow. I still miss my Dad after 21 years.
squash borers
We had a severe outbreak of cankerworms 5 years ago and I used bacillus thuringiensis (A brand name is DIPEL) to kill the larvae on our plants. I also used it on my squash plants. Sprayed it on stems and leaves. My theory is that when the moth lays the eggs onto the squash vine, the egg hatches and has to eat thru the outside of the vine to get to the core. If the vine has well sprayed, then it ingests the bacillus and within hours stops eating and its gut explodes. Spraying my vines with bacillus thuringiensis works well if I am consistent with the spraying. Kept them going for 10 weeks one summer--until I missed spraying for 2 weeks and then the borers had their way. The bacillus is harmless to humans and pets and is a form of natural control of borers. By the way, control of cankerworms is only achieved with glue-covered strips around the trees on your property that host the female moths that crawl up them to lay eggs.
Vine Borer Madness
I've been gardening in Connecticut for over 40 years and for the last 20, the vine borers are a yearly battle. I have tried every method of prevention and treatment mentioned in this article and all the replies, but those dang worms win! This year I tried the "bait crop" method. Plant squash, wait until you see signs of vine Borer damage, i.e frass and/or sudden wilted leaves and then dig the entire plant out, getting some of the dirt around the roots and either immediately burn it, or put the affected plants in a heavy duty trash bag and tie it tightly at the top. The concept is that the borers will be eliminated in the larva stage and the life cycle is broken. Since we had snow and freezing temps into late April this year, I had to start my bait crop inside. I planted the seedlings (yellow crookneck squash) out the 3rd week of May and on June 15th I found frass at the base of several stems. Dug the plants out and before they got tossed into my fire pit, I did some investigating and slit open the stems from several plants. I was not prepared for the sheer number of borers each plant contained. My biggest plant, contained 56, yes 56 individual borers ranging from just barely visible in size to well over an inch. Every stem had borers, even those showing no signs of frass or wilting so apparently they enter in numbers through one hole then spread out into the various stems. Not only were they near the frass, but throughout the hollow stems and I even found some when I split open the thick veins on the underside of the leaves. No wonder my prevention methods didn't work, once hatched, these borers go into every root, stem and leaf vein the plant has..After carefully dissecting the first 5 plants, taking care to kill every Borer found, all the plants went into my fire pit. I planted a second crop, in a location I never grew squash before. The plants are just big enough to have blossoms now. I have been carefully watching for the moths and doing the best I can to inspect for eggs and of course it happened again..... Today there were wilted leaves so I slit the stems down to the soil level and sure enough, Borer larva , the*&@#!!!!! things!
So despite planting a sacrificial crop early in the year, burning the entire crop once larva were found, the second crop planted at least 100 feet from the first, and planted where squash had never been grown before, the 2nd crop got attacked by the same thing. This also confirms that the cold North East states get 2 hatches per year.. So despite my longing for home grown organic yellow squash, crop #2 went into the fire pit today. I'm going to plant a 3rd crop and hope our fall is mild enough that I get squash.
By the way, I've spent time every day looking for the moths and never seen a single one, so these pests are very hard to prevent and control. Not sure what I'll try next, but I refuse to use chemicals and I refuse to give up!
Squash Borers
Dear Lisa,
Your experience with the vine borers has to be most discouraging. I have been gardening for over 50 years but usually have not grown squash. Many years ago I had some excellent results with zucchini w/o any problems. So this summer (2018) decided to try Acorn squash. The plants were most robust and healthy but the next day they were totally wilted and dead as if something cut them off at the root.
After reading your impossible to win war against the borer and how the larva can winter over in the soil and how you tried to remove the borer by burning all the infected plants causes me to think why not burn the soil in which you are planting the vines.
Of course I realize you cannot burn an entire garden of say 30' x 40' (that is size of my garden). However, if you grow the squash in raised beds of say 4' x 4' (as I am also doing) or in large half barrels the amount of soil burning would be contained to a small area.
Start with a large gas (not gasoline) burner. Do the immediate soil surface first. Then turn over about 3 to 5 inches of soil and repeat the process. Do this about four or five times. This might burn (kill) all the larva in the soil.
You probably have been in contact with your local state agriculture office for info. If not check in with them.
Also saw a suggestion of placing diatomaceous earth around the immediate area the squash plants. In case you don't know diatomaceous earth is a very fine powder composed of the shells left by tiny marine creatures. It is often used in filters, especially swimming pool filters. The powder is so fine that it gets into the breathing system of insects cause irritation and subsequent death. In other words they seem to choke to death.
SVB solutions that have worked for me plus future options
I am not going to write too much because you never know if what you write is going to be published. First, there are many things to prolong the life of your plants that have been infected with squash vine borers. 1) Inject a homemade garlic insecticide into main stem of the plant with a syringe + needle. This worked for me when I injected every three days into zucchini plants that were infested. I do not think that the components of soap, garlic, and oil are going to poison me. They lived and produced fruit until the frost killed them. 2 ) For plants that spread out, such as pumpkin, cover each vine every two feet or less with soil and then water them heavily each time you cover a portion of the vine. Maybe do this once a week to correspond to your watering schedule. New roots will form at the locations where they were covered. The plant continues to thrive even if the plant dies at its original point of origin. This also helps if you have mildew emerging on the older leaves of the plant. Another option: How about breaking the cycle by planting only Cucurbita Moschata squash and pumpkins? If there are not many gardeners around you, this could be the trick. The squash vine borer can not survive inside the Moshcata family of squash because they have solid vines. I am trying this year Zucchini Rampicante (zucchini replacement), Waltham butternut squash, and Dickinson pumpkin (this a tan pumpkin like Waltham, but my kids will not care). All are Moschata and have solid vines. I do not know anyone else in my area that has a garden and plants squash. From experience, I do not believe any of the websites that say C. Maxima or some types of C. Pepo will survive the SVB onslaught. The only way they will flourish is by burying their vines every couple of feet or so and promote root growth at the buried vine. The following years I will plant different types so I can save their seeds.
Your homemade garlic insecticide
Please send me the recipe for your homemade garlic insecticide to use in injecting into the stems. We are hoping to try to prolong the plants lives to get some squash this season. We have tried DE and soap sprayed on the plants and soil when plants were planted and through out but the borers still got them last yr as well as soap sprays with and without Neem, and with Kayolin clay. I was able to keep a few alive but they still died without producing as many squash as we hoped.
Thank you and I look forward to your reply.
Cassie
Squash that isn't bothered by SVB.
Try tatume squash which is a good variety and isn't a host for the dreaded squash vine borer. It is a vining type so give it room or train it up a trellis. In the south there is still time to grow it.
Homemade garlic injection recipe
I have been fighting those bugs for years and thought your idea of injecting directly into the stem great. I would like to try this method. Would you be able to email me your recipe?
Thank you
Cathy
squash borers
I've been told that planting nasturtiums and garlic in your garden will deter the squash bugs. I will give it a try this year. They get my zucchini every year before I do.
No on the garlic
My garlic was right by my zucchini and cucumbers, onions too. I will try nasturtiums.
Worse year ever for these disgusting things
I have been gardening for over 30 years and never ever had a bad zucchini crop. Well, I finally met the squash borer and boy did they go to town on my squash. First limiting the plants growth but I got one zucchini until I decided to look inside the stalk. I found one that was over an inch long and he feasted on inches of the stalk. Well I got so mad I pulled up all my plants and dug up the soil and found babies, look like little white worms and burned them with a blow torch. Also found tons of ants protecting their eggs and of course aphid eggs on the roots of my zucchini. The Northeast is getting a lot of heavy rain and I do believe this is the culprit also my friend leaving rotting and old plants in the garden from last year wasn't a good idea (no more of that). I also lost my cucumbers, honeydew melon and cantaloupe, so they do go after cucumbers. I have read a few articles and found the foil around the stem, but also using a rhubarb leave as a cover for the seedling (yes I am starting over) and will try this method too. We also got nematodes hoping they will kill the little ones as how can they get to the big ones in the stalk? We have Sevin too and will treat the soil with this as the little ones are the ones I am worried about now with the new seedlings I have. I like the picture of the moth, I thought it was just a regular white moth but now I know what to look for. The other comment from that man just didn't see the picture? Also there is a rhubarb tea that is poisonous that I will try in the soil. I will try anything now before the season is over, but next year I plan on turning the soil over, getting millions of nematodes not before I burn some wood right in the garden to add some wood ash to it and hopefully burn the little babies before they go hide for the winter. I will not let these little bas***ds ruin my garden. My advice is don't give up, get determined as home grown veggies vs. grocery store is well worth all the work and frustration. Don't let any pest ruin your fruit and veggies. Get a blow torch and burn them all, lol...
borer
Interesting Gloria, I live in the North East, Pennsylvania and lost my Zucchini and Gourd plants. What a disappointment. It happened so fast.
squash borers
We have lost several plants in years past to the dang borers!! Not anymore:) My husband is vigilant with his little shaker can of Sevin dust.
If it gets watered or washed away by rain, here he goes and sprinkles more. He keeps a little fine dusting around the stems (and up on the stems) of all our plants. NO borers. I am not usually so agreeable to using chemicals (in this case carbaryl 5%). But, we have tried everything else. This really works.
Hopeless
I did the manual "surgery" to remove the borers one year, and it was probably the most disgusting job I've ever had to do for my garden. Those worms wreaked havoc on my garden and even after painstakingly removing them they still kept coming back. I don't have the room to plant trap crops, nor do I feel they work as they just encourage more breeding of the bad insect.
This year I'm seeing the moths but I have no practical way of preventing them from laying eggs. Going to do what I did last time and use a systemic pesticide that both kills the borers and degrades into harmless compounds before harvest.
Try the Yellow Sticky Traps
I just found these on the web after hearing about them. The moth will fly onto the sticky side and get trapped. Also good for aphids and whiteflies. I just ordered some tonight and hopefully they will work. It said it attracts moths so I'm willing to give them a try. You can't give up.
squash vine borers
This is the second year I have had to deal with these monsters. This year I have been diligent picking the eggs off all my plants, (very time consuming) but yesterday I found 2 plants with evidence of the borers and had to pull the borers out - so I obviously missed at least 2, but probably more eggs. From my observations the moth lays the eggs on the top areas of the plant, I have found eggs on the tops and bottom of leaves, on the curly strings that catch the trellis netting, the leaf stems, bases of the flowers, and the plant stems, all mostly on the upper parts of the plants. Its extremely frustrating and heartbreaking to see the plants die after so much effort to protect them. In my search for a solution I did come across some netting for moths/butterflies - similar to deer netting in price and material, but it is NOT sold in the USA, at least not in a cost effective way. The UK and Europe sells the 'butterfly netting' for a similar price as deer netting $70/roll 7'x100'. Some companies here make something similar, but the price is triple or more; and to have it shipped from outside the US raises the price too high. This is the second time I have found solutions outside of this country that are available to other country's consumers - I can only think it has something to do with the chemical companies not wanting us to have organic options....very frustrated!!
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