Squash Vine Borer

[OmahaJB]

Found an article by the University of Minnesota Extension office on the subject of the squash vine borer. If anyone is interested in reading it I suggest googling the article. I would have copied and pasted but have never been able to do so on my old webtv. Has never worked right or some reason.

Still not sure if that's what has damaged the base of my Musquee de Provence squash vine, but it's my best guess so far. Not totally convinced it is because the leaves are not affected yet (from lack of water cased by the vine damage). Also the article explained the borer goes in at the base and bores upwards. Mine fit that description with the exception that the upperside of the vine (starting at the base travelling up a few inches), is gone, exposing the inside of the vine. The underneath side is still there.

So I'm perplexed at the cause at this time. Next time I visit the garden I may cut in to the vine just a little higher than where it's already destroyed to see if a borer is inside or not.

A couple things I took from the article that I found interesting: The adult vine borer moths are attracted to yellow, and if you fill a yellow bucket or bowl with water and place it in the garden they'll likely fly their way to the bowl and drown.

Also, they resemble hornets. They are partially red if I recall correctly. They buzz fairly loudly when they fly.

Once the larvae inside the vine are through eating and are sprouting wings they fly to the soil nearby and burrow into about an inch down until the following year. When they come out they find an unsuspecting vine to lay they larvae on then fly around happily buzzing around the garden.

More experienced gardeners please add your comments if you think I have anything wrong. Just going by memory of the article.

Jeff