The adult squash vine borer is a day-flying moth that looks more like a wasp than a moth on the surface. When at repose, it has a thick, dark grey or dull orange abdomen with black spots and hairy hind legs with orange patterns, with the wings folded back over the body.
The front wings are metallic greenish-black, while the hind wings are transparent (no scales) and have dark veins that are only visible when they fly.
They range from 34 to 1 inch in length, with a 1- to 112-inch wingspan.
The moths prefer to fly slowly about plants in zig-zag patterns, resting on leaves in the evening. Moths only stay active for around a month.
Host plants:
Cultivated and wild cucurbits are attacked by the squash vine borer. Host plants with large hollow stems are preferred over those with narrow stems by this insect. Winter squash Summer squash and pumpkin are the most common types of squash.
Territory:
Squash Vine Borer is found east of the Rocky Mountains in North America, from Canada to South America.
Damage caused by Squash Vine Borer:
Squashes, pumpkins, gourds, cucumbers, and muskmelons have larvae that burrow into their stems. Winter squash (especially Hubbard), pumpkins, and zucchini are all vulnerable to borer attack. Infested vines wilt at first, then become girdled, causing the leaves and stem to decay beyond the point of attack. This insect is a common source of damage in household gardens, although it is only an occasional issue in commercial cucurbit crops. An infestation may be indicated by the presence of course, yellowish grains of frass (faecal matter from the feeding larva) around the base of stems or on the ground under the vines. Later, the frass becomes sticky and lustrous, and leaking from pores in the stems may be noticed.
Life history and Habits:
Squash vine borers overwinter in the soil as pupae. Adults emerge from the soil early to mid summer and begin laying eggs on stems within 3 feet of the soil surface. They feature black and white legs, deep green forewings, black antennae, and orange with black markings on the abdomen. Adults are frequently active and visible during the day and can be mistaken for wasps occasionally. Brownish, flat, oval eggs are laid one at a time. Larvae are fat, pale caterpillars with blackheads that are 1 inch long. Four to five weeks later, the larvae leave the vine and travel into the earth to pupate. Each growing season, there are one or two generations.
