Small borer holes in Cucumber fruit

SteveAustin · June 30, 2012

This is my second season attempting to grow cucumbers in South Carolina. About mid-June the cucumber fruits start having small bore holes (large needle size) with some sort of sappy substance oozing out of them. Some fruits will have a hole in them and some will have multiple holes.

I'm diligent about checking my plants for any insect activity during the morning/evening but it must be occurring during the night hours.

I did a google search and turned up nothing worthwhile.

What pest is causing this? Also, are the fruits safe to eat if I cut out the bad section of the cucumber fruit?

b54red · June 30, 2012

They will also hit your squash and cantaloupes. The only solution I have found is a thorough spraying with Sevin late in the evening so you don't kill the bees. I like to add a bit of molasses and a drop or two of dish washing soap to get better coverage. I believe they are called pickleworms and they can get in every single fruit once they get started if you don't stop them. So far this year I have had some in my cucumbers and squash but they haven't gotten my cantaloupes yet.

SteveAustin · June 30, 2012

I suspected that they are pickleworms but I wasn't for certain. I'll discard the infected cucumber fruits. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to wait several days before applying anything since it will be over 100 for the next three days and near 80 at night.

June 30, 2012	#1
SteveAustin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 11	Small borer holes in Cucumber fruit This is my second season attempting to grow cucumbers in South Carolina. About mid-June the cucumber fruits start having small bore holes (large needle size) with some sort of sappy substance oozing out of them. Some fruits will have a hole in them and some will have multiple holes. I'm diligent about checking my plants for any insect activity during the morning/evening but it must be occurring during the night hours. I did a google search and turned up nothing worthwhile. What pest is causing this? Also, are the fruits safe to eat if I cut out the bad section of the cucumber fruit?

June 30, 2012	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	They will also hit your squash and cantaloupes. The only solution I have found is a thorough spraying with Sevin late in the evening so you don't kill the bees. I like to add a bit of molasses and a drop or two of dish washing soap to get better coverage. I believe they are called pickleworms and they can get in every single fruit once they get started if you don't stop them. So far this year I have had some in my cucumbers and squash but they haven't gotten my cantaloupes yet.