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I know this should be on the other board but figured more people would see it here. I have come under attack of the vine borers. I know seems strange being this early just wondering if anyone knows what I should do I did not spray warrior T when I put them in the ground as I thought it was too early for these. I lost my 1097 beachy to these I thought maybe the wind got it but when I pulled it today and looked at the vine and opened it up you can see little white larva. It looks as if they have started on the 1133 Demers also as the 1st true leave is starting to wilt. Just wondering if I should pack it in this year or if I can get ride of these things if I replant. I went ahead a did a spray of warrior T today on the plants (1133 and 1236). Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Todd

5/1/2005 2:23:38 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

There is no way you have squash vine borers already...Your growing degree days are not enough..They are most likely a corn root borer or another kind of larvae borer.

5/1/2005 3:43:55 PM

that is what I was thinking that it was way to early for that but opened up the vine and there were lots of them inside. Above ground just looks like the plant wilts away as those larvae are eating away towards the top.

5/1/2005 3:51:48 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

They are probably root maggots.

5/1/2005 4:43:24 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Corn root maggotts are the Larva of cucumber beetles but it is still way too early for those !

5/1/2005 6:07:21 PM

will try to post pictures if I can get them off of my cell phone I have no clue what they are but affraid as I just started the 1446 and 1100 Bobier and would hate to lose all these great seeds.

5/1/2005 6:10:46 PM

Follansbee, Wv

Could be root maggots or more likely, stalk borers. Stalk borers are not the same as SVB. They occure early in the season.

5/1/2005 8:04:45 PM

Should Warrior T take care of these or how do you get them out of the patch? How do they get there in the first place. Just trying to figure out what went wrong this year compared to the first 3 years. Thanks everyone.

5/1/2005 8:35:09 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

You have vines? What are your temps? When did you start? When is your state fair?

5/2/2005 7:14:43 AM

No I had zero vines the 2nd true leaf was starting and the state fair is Aug 20th I think. It would have been the stump where I found these things.

5/2/2005 11:03:06 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

yep sounds like root maggots...They love all that organic material we add to our patches. I would water the seedlings with diazinon or what ever the replacement Ortho came up with.

5/2/2005 11:28:20 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

I believe granular Triazicide will work also. If they are maggots, a floating row cover will keep the flies away that lay the eggs.

5/2/2005 12:15:25 PM

thanks everyone will take more action tonight once I see what is going on.

5/2/2005 1:31:37 PM

forgot to mention I posted pics in my diary

5/2/2005 1:32:47 PM

Long Island,New York

The first thing I'd ask is..."What grew in that spot last year?". Then, depending on the answer, it could be many things. As for "degree days", well....we often warm up our soils with plastic or hoop houses giving a false "degree day" total. If the buggers were in the soil over the winter they may be hatched now thinking its June if the soil was warmed with heating cables, plastic, hoop houses or heating up compost/manures.....well, what grew there?

5/2/2005 5:24:39 PM

well pumpkins were grown there last year althought this was my first year with winter rye as a cover crop is the only thing I can think of that was different. Also I did use plastic to warm the soil.

5/3/2005 5:16:25 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Judging from the pics, those are definately some form of root maggot, whether seedcorn maggot or cabbage maggot is hard to tell.

5/3/2005 8:03:19 AM

Montoursville, PA

My guess is that you did pre-warm your soil a few degrees. Perhaps you also awakened the larva and said, "come on to lunch boys".

Solarizing with plastic is a whole season tool. Just a little jump start may pre-maturely awaken a number of demons befor the ballance could possibly provide a natural resistance, for any number, of ills, that normally appear later, in the season.

The only place, in our growing, that I see, for plastics use is, in the covering, of a greenhouse or cold frame.

5/3/2005 10:52:17 AM