Horticulture/Squash Vine Borer

The squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae, often referred to as SVB) is a devastating and hard to control pest of cucurbit crops.

Description
This insect is a diurnal species of sesiid moth that attacks both wild and cultivated varieties of squash and other members of the cucurbit family. The moth is often mistaken for a bee or wasp because of its movements, and the bright orange hindleg scales. The caterpillar is a grub-like borer.

Symptoms and Signs
Wilting of lower leaves and frass are the initial indications, quickly followed by the wilting and death of the entire plant.

Ecology
The females typically lay their eggs at the base of leaf stalks, and the caterpillars develop and feed inside the stalk, eventually killing the leaf. They soon migrate to the main stem, and with enough feeding damage to the stem, the entire plant may die. The petioles of the lower leaves and stem should be monitored for entry holes and frass, which appear before damage becomes evident.

Host plants
Hosts include members of the family Cucurbitae, primarily the squashes (../Cucurbita/).

Control