July/August 2005
Barbara Pleasant
The nemesis of squash lovers, squash vine borers (
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Melittia
cucurbitae) girdle squash stems from the inside out, which
radically shortens the plants' lifespans. Here are seven creative
ways gardeners have found to control them.
- Grow a moschata or mixta variety. Squash vine borers leave them
alone.
- Use rowcovers to delay infestation.
- Inject Bt or beneficial nematodes into the stems. Studies have
shown that nematodes remain active inside the stems for two weeks
or more. Supplies for trying either method are available from
Gardens Alive!
- Surgically remove them. Use a small knife to make a slit where
you think borers are feeding, and fish them out with forceps or
tweezers. Then cover the slit stem with moist soil.
- Trap the mamas. Large yellow pails filled with soapy water
placed among your squash may attract the egg-laying adults (which
are moths that look like wasps). Theoretically, they fall in and
drown.
- Strip off eggs. Some folks wrap the bases of squash with
aluminum foil or cloth to deter egg-laying adults. Later, should
eggs appear farther up the stem, they can be stripped off with duct
tape.