It’s The Season For Hurricanes, Squash, Cucumber Bugs and Vine Bores

2.30am – 89 degrees, and Yes – I’m Still Whining about the weather. Yesterday at 3pm it topped 111 degrees. My weather guy is still promising that temperatures will plunge down to a cool 97 degrees on September 1st, 2011. Last time it was that cool on my Tiny Farm was on the 4th day of May this year. That will be 119 days sense the last time I saw a cool 97 degree day. Oklahoma’s governor or county commissioners have declared outdoor burn bans in 65 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.

Everyone says they want a home with an ocean view. It seem that hurricane Irene has made this a reality for many from North Carlina to New York. They say 4.5 million are without electric service and of course 15 to 19 inches of rain has caused a lot of homes and businesses to be flooded.

That’s the way of weather. I can’t get enough rain to water 1 old thirsty Jackrabbit and all along an already wet east coast gets another 15 inch rain storm!

Adult Squash Bug

Many plants like squash and cucumbers are ending their productive life cycle. You need to be on the lookout for infestations of squash bugs, cucumber bugs and vine bores. They might be better called vine bugs. They will also feed on pumpkins and melon vines. Treat at the first sign of an infestation of squash or cucumber bugs.

Squash Bug Eggs

Physical Control of squash bugs: If only a few plants are affected, handpick and kill the nymphs and adults (e.g., drop them into a pail of soapy water). Crush eggs that are attached to the stems and undersides of leaves. Another method is to trap squash bugs by laying out boards or pieces of newspaper at nigh, the next morning kill any squash bugs you find. Remove plant debris around the garden during the growing season to reduce the potential harborages where squash bugs may hide. Clean up cucurbits and other plant matter around the garden in the fall to reduce the number of overwintering sites.

Chemical Control of squash bugs: Insecticides are normally not required to manage squash bugs. However, if curcurbits are found wilting due to squash bug feeding, then an insecticide application may be needed to manage the insects. If large numbers of squash bugs are found in the garden later in the summer, it may be necessary to protect your curcurbits with an insecticide.

Squash Bug Nymphs

Carbaryl (e.g., Sevin) and permethrin (e.g., Eight) are effective insecticides to manage squash bugs. The best time to apply these insecticides is during minimal bee activity, which is typically early in the morning or late at night.

Remove non-productive vines and put them in your compost pile. Vines showing signs of disease or vine bore damage, I do not recommend that these vines be composted. It’s safer for your garden to burn or bag these diseased vines to be sent to a land fill.

Grinning, I haven’t seen a single squash or cucumber bug this year. By the middle of June my little horde of grasshoppers had eaten all my squash, cucumbers and tomato’s back to the ground. Poor little things never had a chance.

Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota

Why is common sense so uncommon?
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