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Ontario, Canada.

Little in print about these facts.

Can they adults be killed by contact pesticides or just the larva?

What is the incubation period of the eggs?

Will the borer larva attack leaf stems?

How effective is daily vine burring?

I need help! Under attack!

Can already buried vines be reached by larva?

6/29/2007 10:06:34 AM

Wi

Russ, I have limited experience, but have done lots of research as I had one in the stump of my 969 Ailts plant last year. I didn't even know it until Joe and I pulled the plant due to a massive stem split in the fruit.

1. Yes
2. 6-10 days temp dependant
3. Yes
4-5. Borers can actually enter the leaf stem then travel down to the vine. So burying may not ALWAYS be effective.

I hope none find my patch this year :(

6/29/2007 10:38:30 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

I will use the same format of answer

1. agreed, if there is enough and they land long enough. MAke sure to spray leaf tops since the rest on them at night.

2. 5-14, but indeed temp dependant

3. yes, they will mostly do this when the vines are buried. The larva may stay in the stalks, but usually make their way down into the junction where stem meets vine.

4. daily vine burying can be dangerous. It does ensure eggs do not get laid on the vine. Like Russ said, it does not guarantee that larva wont make it down. Further, if eggs are already on vine and you bury them, pesticides applications will do no good for that egg. I like to spray every 5 days on new growth (bifenthrin) let is dry overnight, and bury the newly sprayed vegetation in the morning. That way, any eggs alreayd on vine are covered. If you do this, make sure your pesticide is ok in the soil for enough time. Some break down very quickly in dirt. Bifenthrin is intended (among other uses) to soak soil to protect against termites, so it is fine in the dirt.

I too am under attack. I picked off over 12 eggs off my hubbard squash plants yesterday alone. I have them to attrack the SVB away from the pumpkins. Works well.

Lastly, as mentioned, the larva can get through a stalk to the vine, but they cannot go through the dirt to get the vines. The only time they move into soil is when ther are fully grown and are preparing for the sleep until next year when they kill us again.

6/29/2007 1:11:51 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Oops, Russ didnt say..., I meant like Chris said.

6/29/2007 1:12:36 PM

Ohio

Russ, I dont remember you having troubles with the vine borers years back, are they starting to move into your area or have the always been there?
I know just certain parts of Canada dont have problems with that nasty sob, but how far into Canada is it that these nasty boogers wont thrive?

Brooks

6/29/2007 9:04:08 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Brooks, not too sure of this answer but we do not have them in British Columbia and they are not in Washington State either....guess they cannot fly over the mountains and into the valleys....thanks goodness for that.

Any Canucks know where there are and are not in Canada?

6/29/2007 9:56:50 PM

hamilton,Ontario

kiled 4 males so far this year and when i got home from work today saw a female..a big egg hatchin female sittin on a leaf...Unfortunately no kill...I spent a long time in the small patch and found 3 eggson three different leaves...when i showed the wife she was amazed at how little they were....new spray over patch...I might kill the plants with pesticide but i aint goin down for vine borers this year aint NO WAY....NASA called and asked me to explain why the garden is glowing?????.....aliens....they were ok with that.............

6/29/2007 10:14:25 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

They are east of the rockies. I know that. As for North/South, I know the go up to New England, further than that Im not sure.

6/29/2007 11:08:46 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Brooks, I saw only one last year. But this year they seam to be all over the place. I chased one around the patch today like a drunken sailor staggering about trying to squash the little red bastard. They are real good flyers and they also seam to have good vision.

They must be heading north a bit each year. I have very little experience battling them. I have sprayed every year for them in an IPM program.

What is the difference between the male and female?

Thanks for the help everyone.....

6/30/2007 12:54:57 AM

Ohio

LOL Russ!! I can just see you all crouched down behind a leaf, hiding and waiting for one to land so you can swat at it!,lol. I know thats what I do when I'm chasing one from plant to plant, ha!!!!. Your right about there eye sight, seems like they have eyes in the back of their head, and they fly around just exactly like a dragon fly would, they sure are allusive.

Bayer tree and shrub if you can get it Russ, drench it at each leaf node on the entire plant, I havnt had a problem the last 3 years using it. It does work well, just gotta use alot more then a regular application of merit. Spray your plants now if you can ol bud!

6/30/2007 4:56:25 AM

Nashville, TN

Read my recent diary entries. Covering Cucurbitas that are protected by different topical/contact pesticides and others protected by Merit. If you've just SEEN the first SVB female - you MIGHT have time to protect plant by saturating w/Merit. (I find it at Lowes under the Bayer 'Lawn grub/insect control')

If anyone's got the place to test for SVB product effectiveness - it's me.... We only had SWARMS of SVB here last year! - think we had more of them than FLIES! And since I have a farm w/ lots of livestock - that's saying a lot!

As for burying the vine - I do this primarily for extensive root development to handle drought conditions. But as the vines increase in length - I lay down granular/pelleted merit in front of them. So the vines absorb it from below - leaves absorb from above....

So far I've lost all the Zuccini to SVB (used contact pesticides on them)... No damage apparent to the GP patch nor the commercial 'kin/squash patch - both protected with only Merit..

6/30/2007 6:41:08 AM