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Qc

I've had same trouble the past few years. These pests seem to bore into the vine and shut down growth and eventually the vines and fruit rot. Any ideas what they are and potential fixes? Thanks

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2022&grower=67810&action=L

6/15/2022 9:40:58 AM

Kutztown, PA

I'm no entomologist but I'd say what you have there is a very nice specimen of the dreaded squash vine borer (SBV). This little guy is the nemesis of the giant pumpkin growing world. I put down granular Imidacloprid (Merit) in April to get something in the plants system early. There are lots of people here that have much more experience with SBV's than me. Now that I've told you what it is, you should find out how to take care of the problem. Solutions range from applying BT, Avid, to slicing the vine open and digging them out. They can ruin your season!

6/15/2022 10:45:31 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

svb

6/16/2022 6:34:42 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

SVB. I remember back in 2009 when I had my first pumpkins, and took a few pictures of the black and red "moth" hanging out on the plants. Little did I know it was laying eggs that hatch into a larvae that bore into the plant by the hundreds. They will enter at the vines, the stalks and even the pumpkin itself. You have to be ahead of the game with them, the larvae grow fast inside the vines. So if you get them with a systemic insecticide later on, you'll have multiple 1 inch grubs rotting inside the vines.

6/16/2022 8:33:06 AM

Kutztown, PA

Smallmouth - as moths go those are pretty ones. I saw one last year, my first year doing pumpkins. I thought it was pretty cool looking.

6/16/2022 9:11:54 AM

Torrance, Ca.

I remember that Luke:(

We're lucky not to have those this side of the Rockies!

6/16/2022 9:44:42 AM

Washington State

We have SVB Trap kits available on our website www.hollandsgiants.com on the Grower Supply page.

6/16/2022 11:22:26 AM