The Destructive Squash Vine Borer: Rampage in the Squash

This year found me up close and personal to destruction wrought by the Squash Vine Borer. We had experienced squash plant collapse a couple of years ago, and knew about the Borer. This year was different because I got a much improved eye-level view of the damage.

Spaghetti Squash Vine on Tomato Cage

Climbing up and over tomato cages, spaghetti squash vines ran hog wild over the garden. Instead of seeing plants wilting on the ground, I first spotted the wilting and drying up of vines at eye-level on tomato cages. It's hard to ignore.

Squash Plant Base no Borer Signs

Signs of Borer on Squash Plant Base

Once the destruction became rampant, and there was nothing to be salvaged from the crop, I started a sanitary removal of all squash plants and further witnessed the destructive nature of this pest. This is what I saw:

Gourds drilled with tiny holes.
Frass deposits on the gourds. (Frass is excrement and material excavated from vines.)
Hollowed out and devoured vines  resembling large straw tubes instead of lush, living vines.

I rolled the vines up and placed them in a black plastic bag. Squash bugs and borers ran for cover. I destroyed several in the bag and on the ground. Before sealing the bag, I sprinkled a healthy amount of Sevin powder in the bag to prevent transporting the bugs to the local dump.

Below is an interesting 3 minute video showing the larvae and damage of the Squash Vine Borer. There are several longer YouTube videos on this subject that may be worth watching.

Garden sanitation is so important in controlling these pests. Gardeners love to compost, myself included, but this is not the time. All diseased and pest-carrying plants should be removed from the area. Think about next year's crop. Since both Squash bugs and Squash Vine Borers overwinter in the ground, squash should not be planted in the same area the next year.

Excellent photographs of the Squash Vine Borer can be found at this University of Kentucky site. Further information on squash pests from North Carolina Cooperative Extension can be found here.

Leaffooted Bugs: Bugs all over my Yucca Plant

Their movements were in slow motion so I almost didn't notice the brown and red shapes on the yucca pods adjacent to my deck.

Leaffooted Bugs - the red ones are nymphs

In the enlarged photo above, the leaf shape of the hind leg is visible. These bugs are known for emitting a foul smell when disturbed. They suck plant juices. 

The activity on the yucca pod resembled more of a family reunion than a feeding frenzy. If the individuals moved at all, it was very slow.

Reference:

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/ag295/html/stink_bugs_and_leaffooted_bugs.htm

Termites in North Carolina

Termites swarming on an interior window sill

 Few words strike fear in the hearts of homeowners more than the word "termite." These destructive insects weaken a home from within by eating wood and other cellulose structures.

The destruction by termites is often unnoticed because it is behind walls or under floors. Occasionally, a homeowner will be lucky enough to witness termites swarming.  Swarming only occurs periodically when a large colony needs to split. Special winged termites called swarmers seek out a new location. This is the time to call professionals.

The maintenance of a termite warranty is important. That requires scheduling annual inspections, paying annual fees, and scheduling booster treatments. A termite inspection is almost always required prior to a home sale. Any infestation would be a hindrance to the sale's closing.

More information on termites can be found at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension website.

Managing Japanese Beetles

Hibiscus - A favorite of Japanese Beetles

As reported previously, Japanese beetle numbers are down significantly. What can you do with the few persistent beetles on your flowers? 

The commercial beetle traps contain pheromones or mating hormones that attract beetles to the trap. 

This trap will draw beetles from all over the neighborhood to your yard. Do not go that route.

I keep a plastic container with soap solution in my garage. When I see beetles on flowers, I knock them into the container and close it. The bugs are slow and sluggish thus easily caught.  I also use old lotion or perfume in the place of soap when making homemade beetle traps.