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Squash vine borer

 
pollinator
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I should think there would be a forum for pest insects. Hope this is in the right place.

I'll soon be moving to an area that has a pest new to me--probably a lot, but I'm researching squash vine borer at the moment.

I've found a lot of information re prevention and so on, but one thing I haven't found--how does the adult moth find a suitable plant to lay her eggs on? Pheromones? Color? I know the squash bug zeroes in on the color of the blossoms. Other insects see color, or smell, or just blunder around hoping to find what they want, but that kind usually lays thousands of eggs rather than just a few so I doubt that's the case here.

Since they're a flying insect I think it's probably pheromones or sight, but what draws them in to the particular plant? What other plants can deter the pest when planted around the squash? Other processes that might work (other than destroying the soil)?
 
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I can’t say for certain, but I think they smell cucurbits. I get squash vine borers every year. I’ve never had the time to truly implement a lot of the cultural practices people say would prevent damage like wrapping stems in foil.  Rather, I just stick to varieties of squash the seem to tolerate some borers.  That would either be those with thick vines or those that easily re-root all along the vine.
 
Lauren Ritz
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Do they just appear when the plants bloom, like squash bugs do?
 
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No they plant their eggs in June.
I read on here to start squash in a pot, away from bugs.
Then plant them in the ground after June.
Worked for me last year.
I had vine borers every year before I tried that.

I don't know what draws them in.
 
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