small worms inside my yellow & Zucchini squash? Help-

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conhutch Rome, GA Jul 24, 2008

This is the first time I have gardened and have found so much joy watching everything grow... However...
I began harvesting my beautiful squash this week and have found tiny holes in them and when cut there are small worms eating up the insides. What is it and can I stop the little buggers? I have also noticed that just in the last few days the plants as a whole seem to be declining. New fruit is dying before it even starts. Any help would be very appreciated!

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patterntracy Hyde Park, MA Jul 24, 2008

Hey conhutch,
I think you need to check out "stormygrace"s posting a few below yours--I think she's got the same problem, and farmerdill gave her some advice. Not that it's good news....
There's photos posted on that as well, so you'll be able to tell if you've got the same thing.
Good luck,
Tracy

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 24, 2008

Yep the pickle worm has arrived. Once they get here, there is not mcuh you can do except wiat for fall or next year. There is really no effective insecticide for them available to the home gardener.
http://www.invasive.org/browse/subimages.cfm?sub=8599
http://www.bonnieplants.com/ProblemSolving/CommonPests/tabid/95/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/42/Pickleworms.aspx

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linux_guile Pueblo, CO Jul 25, 2008

Eeep! i sure hope these things arnt in colorado. my bigest pest so far were cucumber beetles

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jordankittyjo Bessemer, AL(Zone 8b) Jul 25, 2008

they arrived here last week. been feeding my squash to the chickens

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Hastur Houston, TX Jul 25, 2008

At least the chickens are getting proteins....

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jordankittyjo Bessemer, AL(Zone 8b) Jul 25, 2008

yep, and they are loving it

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Hastur Houston, TX Jul 25, 2008

I have what is probably a dumb question about the pickles worms: does it help to trellis the cukes or not?

I've read about how trellissing the cukes will help avoid the stuff they can get from the ground, like various rots and fungi. Do the things that lay pickle worm eggs crawl or fly, and would having the fruit off the ground help?

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Jul 25, 2008

It is a moth, Hastur, You can run but you can't hide.

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FattyTofu Deltona, FL Jun 15, 2009

I have the same problem! Luckily for me I was able to eat some of them before the worms hit (at least I hope so).

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Hastur Houston, TX Jun 15, 2009

Think of the worms as protein. Yeah, that's it. *yech*

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