Hello,
I suspect this damage has been caused by a squash vine borer. If so, this is a new pest in my garden. Can someone confirm and advise? I am accustomed to picking Mexican Bean Beetles off my squash and squishing the adults, larva and eggs, but I am not sure what to look for/squish here. Also, at this point will my vines make it? Are they hopeless? What to do to prevent this in the future or control the damage now. I prefer low-tech, low-cost, organic methods. Thank you!
Did you find the borer? You can remove infected stems (wilted) if you have something still rooted to the ground. I've done that in the past. I open the stem and find the borer then kill it. Since the stems are hollow, I've read some people squirt something to kill the borer into the stem with something like a turkey baster. Maybe soapy water, I've never tried myself. I do the first thing I mentioned.
Here is a fact sheet on Squash Vine Borer.
https://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/squash-vine-borers/
