Question of the Week – Squash Vine Borer

This week, the question was: What is this critter resting on a zucchini flower bud?

This is the adult form of the squash vine borer. The female moth lays eggs on the leaves and stems of squash and zucchini plants. A tiny caterpillar hatches from the egg and bores into the stems to feed. We often don’t notice they are present until leaves or the whole plant (depending on where they bored into the plant) begins to wilt. Inside the stem, they are protected from natural enemies and pesticide applications. Click here to read more about squash vine borers.