squash vine borer

not listed

NNR - Unranked

not listed

Squash vine borer is a colorful, wasp mimicking, clearwing moth. It occurs in the eastern half of the United States, in southern Mexico, and in southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. In Minnesota it is restricted to the southern half of the state. It is a serious agricultural pest of gourd (Family Cucurbitaceae) crops, especially zucchini and Hubbard-type squashes.

Adults are ⅝″ (17 mm) long and have a wingspan of 1⅛″ to 1¼″ (28 to 32 mm). They are said to resemble a wasp but do not have a constricted waist and have very different antennae.

The pair of small, finger-like processes (labial palps) curving up from the lower part of the head are long, extending well beyond the middle of the face. The antennae are black with an irregular white streak above in the outer (distal) half.

The forewings are long, narrow, rounded at the tip, black, and fringed with olive-green. The hindwings are much broader and have a large area that is transparent, completely free of scales. The rear margin of the forewing and the front margin of the hindwing each have a row of interlocking spines.

The thorax is dark gray. The abdomen is mostly dull orange except for the first two segments, which are entirely dark olive green. There is a large, squarish, black dot at the front margin in the middle (middorsal) of segments 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The legs are mostly black with narrow white bands. The third segment (femur) of the front legs is orange on the upper side. On the middle and hind legs, the femur has a dense fringe of long orange hairs, and the fourth segment (tibia) has a dense fringe of long black hairs.

The larvae are white and have a brown head. They are rarely seen outside of the vine.

Total length: ⅝″ (17 mm)

Wingspan: 1⅛″ to 1¼″ (28 to 32 mm)

One generation per year. Mid-June to August

Adults are active during the day and rest at night.

The female deposits eggs singly on stems and leaves of host plants. The egg hatches in 10 to 15 days and the larva immediately bores into the vine. About four weeks later, the mature larva drops off the plant and burrows into the soil. The larva overwinters in the soil. It pupates in the spring and an adult emerges in mid-to late June.

Vines of plants in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), especially zucchini and Hubbard-type squashes, but also acorn and butternut squashes, gourds, and pumpkin.

Flower nectar

Sources

21, 24, 29, 30, 75, 82.

Found on my Zucchini plants.

Strange Moth

It is a beauty !

Location: Clark Field, Minnesota

We have been battling these nasties for the last 3 years. They do seem to love the summer squash and our Red Warty Thing squash/pumpkins.

Location: Brooklyn Park, Mn

Found on my Zucchini plants.

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota