Squash Vine Borers Are Out Now

Adult squash vine borers are day time flying moths that resemble wasps. They are about 1/2 inch long with an orange abdomen with black dots. The first pair of wings is an iridescent green while the back pair of wings (which may not always be seen plainly) is clear. There are a couple of methods for detecting them in your garden - watch for them flying around while you are in your garden and/or place yellow containers (like pans or pails) half filled with soapy water. These moths are attracted to yellow; when they fly to the container, they will fall in. It is then an easy matter to check the container for their presence. 

 

As soon as you spot one squash vine borer, start treatment. There are a variety of insecticides that can be applied. If you don’t see any but have a history of these pests in your garden, begin treatment by late June or early July (the further north you are located, the later the moths will emerge).