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Location

Message

Date Posted

Ray, North Dakota

PM really took the plants, and 80% of the fruits were orange so I picked them last night. I was finding that something has been nibbling on them. Not eating completely through them, but biting the skin in several places. You can see where whatever it was, walked and munched.

Bugs, worms, or a pest like a mouse or mole?

Will this make them rot in storage? I will wipe them down with some bleach water tonight.

I picked 70 total pumpkins, and 20 had rotten stems or were bitten up and bored into.

9/23/2009 2:07:46 PM

Elmira, N,Y,

If you keep them cool and spray the bleach water and the cavity has not been compromise I think they should be fine.

9/23/2009 2:21:09 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

If the holes/tracks are about the width/thickness of a pencil, slugs and possibly sow bugs. If they're not to the cavity they should survive.

9/23/2009 3:27:58 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Not slugs, I'm sure of that. I'll check for sow bugs. Thanks.

9/23/2009 5:13:58 PM

Ray, North Dakota

Nope, checked. We don't have slugs or sow bugs here in NE North Dakota.

Gotta be a rodent like a mole or vole or something. They don't bore into the fruit, just take a bite out of the skin.

9/23/2009 5:21:51 PM

Bethlehem CT

I will have to pick mine today, Mice (voles) and deer have gotten a taste of them. Look for hoofprints if you suspect deer. I think mice would be more apt to nibble around the bottom of the fruit, deer would be more on top.

9/24/2009 7:49:57 AM

Ray, North Dakota

I know its not deer, but am suspecting a rodent. Thanks everyone. I will have pumpkins with pimples for Halloween. lol.

9/24/2009 10:19:22 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Cucumber beetles....

9/24/2009 2:14:23 PM

Sequim, WA

Rabbits have a taste for pumpkin this time of year.

9/24/2009 10:22:32 PM