Squash vine borers are a common, destructive pest that can kill countless squash plants during the summer growing season. In this article, you’ll find out how to identify squash vine borers AND how to prevent them or stop them from killing your squash plants using organic methods.
Here are six things you can do to prevent or stop squash vine borers from damaging your squash plants:
Alpine storks bill, also known by its botanical name Erodium, is a delightful flowering plant that thrives in rock gardens and borders. However, these delicate blooms can fall victim to boring insects that tunnel into stems and leaves, causing significant damage. Learning how to properly identify and treat borer infestations is key to protecting your alpine storks bill plants.
What Are Borers?
Borers are the larval stage of certain moths and beetles that feed on the inner tissues of stems and leaves. Some common species that affect alpine storks bill include:
- Longhorn beetle borers
- Flatheaded borers
- Roundheaded borers
- Leafmining moths
These pests chew their way into plants, disrupting nutrient and water flow Left unchecked, borers can even kill affected plants. Keep an eye out for early signs of infestation
Identifying Borer Damage on Alpine Storks Bill
Catching borer infestations early allows you to take prompt action Watch for these common signs
- Small holes surrounded by wet or dry sawdust-like frass on stems
- Tunnels visible within stems and leaves
- Wilting, yellowing, or dying leaves and flowers
- Stunted growth
- Dead stems or plant dieback
Check alpine storks bill frequently, examining stems and the undersides of leaves for any suspicious holes, frass, or leaf mines. Peel back stems to look for tunnels. Finding pests early makes treatment easier.
Organic Ways to Get Rid of Borers
If you detect borers on your alpine storks bill here are some effective organic control methods
Hand Removal
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Carefully prune away and destroy severely infested stems, flowers, and leaves.
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Slice open less damaged stems to extract and kill borers inside with a tweezers or knife tip.
Biological Controls
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Introduce beneficial nematodes or parasitic wasps to prey on borer larvae.
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Attract woodpeckers and other birds that eat borers.
Pesticidal Sprays
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Spray neem oil, insecticidal soap, or Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) onto plants to kill larvae.
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Apply hydrated lime or kaolin clay to deter adult moths from laying eggs.
Soil Health
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Spread diatomaceous earth around plants to shred boring insects.
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Ensure soil is healthy with compost to help plants better withstand pests.
Crop Rotation
- Rotate alpine storks bill plantings to different beds each season to disrupt borer life cycles.
Preventing Future Borer Infestations
Along with control methods, certain practices can help deter borers and maintain vigorous alpine storks bill plants:
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Clean up plant debris where moths may overwinter
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Use row covers as a physical barrier against egg-laying adults
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Avoid excess nitrogen fertilization that makes plants more susceptible
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Monitor for early signs of damage and treat quickly
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Grow plants in proper light and prune for air circulation
With persistence and a multi-pronged approach, you can protect your alpine storks bill flowers from destruction by hungry borers. A little prevention also goes a long way in keeping these pests from ever becoming an issue in your garden.
Frequently Asked Questions About Borers on Alpine Storks Bill
How do borers get on alpine storks bill?
Adult boring insects like certain moths and beetles lay eggs on or near plants. After hatching, the larvae chew into stems, leaves, and flowers to feed, eventually pupating inside the plants.
What do borer eggs look like?
Borer moth eggs are tiny (1mm) round or oval shaped, while beetle eggs resemble rice grains. Eggs are laid singly or in small clusters on leaves, stems, or soil around plants.
What attracts borers to alpine storks bill?
Stressed, damaged, or unhealthy plants emit compounds that attract boring insects. Proper care and growing conditions protect alpine storks bill against infestation.
Are borers harmful to humans?
No, borers do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. However, some people may develop minor skin, eye, or respiratory irritation from hairs on certain caterpillars. Take precautions and wear gloves when handling.
How can I use neem oil for borers?
Mix neem oil with water according to package directions. Spray on alpine storks bill, including the undersides of leaves, to kill borer eggs and larvae present. Repeat application every 7-14 days.
How long does it take for beneficial nematodes to kill borers?
After application to soil, beneficial nematodes can begin killing borer larvae within 24-48 hours. For best results, apply early in the borer lifecycle before they penetrate stems.
Protecting your beloved alpine storks bill flowers from invasive borers takes diligence, but is very worthwhile. Implement preventative measures and be prepared to take action at the first signs of infestation. Your efforts will allow you to enjoy the full beauty of these enchanting plants.
How can you tell if your squash plant has been killed by squash vine borers?
Here’s how you know you’ve got a squash vine borer: one day you have a healthy squash plant. Then, 24-48 hours later, you walk outside to find a squash plant that is limp and collapsed.
You check the ground and the soil is plenty moist. You give the plant a gentle tug at its base to see if something may have eaten its roots (such as a vole), but it’s still firmly in the ground. Then you notice small holes in the leaf stems and/or the main stem of the plant with brown frass around the opening, indicating that something has chewed its way inside.
You’ve got squash vine borers!
Usually, once the squash plant has gone limp from damage, there is no way to bring it back. This experience can be heart-breaking, especially if you’re relying on a small number of squash plants for a yield.
The above (attribution: Raleigh City Farm on Flickr) shows squash BUG eggs (another common squash pest) on a squash leaf. Squash bug eggs look very similar to squash vine borer eggs. However, squash vine borer eggs tend to be laid individually (or in small groupings) on the main stem of the plant or undersides of individual leaf stems. Squash bug eggs are laid in larger clusters on the tops and bottoms of the leaves. Bottom line: if you see a shiny, copper-colored egg on your squash plant, it’s either a squash borer or a squash bug, and the eggs should be removed by hand or using the sticky side of a piece of tape.
Here are six things you can do to prevent or stop squash vine borers from damaging your squash plants:
Perform squash surgery.
Let’s say you find an obvious entry hole on the stem of your squash plant with frass around it, but your squash plant still appears to be healthy. And you don’t have Bt spray handy. Grr…
What do you do?
Break out the surgical tools and play squash doctor!
A box cutter and a pair of tweezers will do the trick.
First, make a straight incision down the stem of the plant (not across the stem which would sever it) where the hole is located. Cut as little as you have to until you spot the culprit, or culprits if there is more than one.
You’re looking for white grubs with a black head. Remove them with tweezers and dispose of them (our ducks consider squash vine borer larvae and tomato hornworms to be summer delicacies).Then cover the affected area with mulch.