From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Nicolaus, CA

Good morning. I'm looking for a nukem' insecticide for vine borers. I've got pretty much everything else handled for my first year of pumpkin growing except for these little guys. I want to apply something that won't hamper the pumpkin plant. My guess would be a pre-plant insecticide. Any suggestions out there? Thank you.

12/8/2010 10:43:39 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

my understanding has always been that there are no svb west of the mississippi however if there are you need generic talstar which is bifen it and also use merit 75wp as added protection. but when you say nuke ans svp in the same sentence you want bifen.

12/8/2010 12:56:21 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Orange, I'm west of the Mississippi and we get them by the thousands. Last year I controlled them with sevin, but will not be using it again since it is so harmful to other beneficial organisms.

I'm also looking for a new insecticide(s) to use next year. I know Merit is systemic, but is Bifen a contact?

12/8/2010 1:04:34 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

LOL they are west of the Mississippi...I think you are thinking west of the Rockies :)

12/8/2010 1:18:10 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Merit at seedling followed by a follow up 60 days later..Start a contact spray depending on Growing Degree Days..

12/8/2010 1:19:35 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

3 step approach to controlling borers. Systemic (Merit), contact Bifenthrin spray (Ortho Bug Be Gon Max) or Permethrin dust (Eight). And bury vines to keep them hidden from those nasty critters.

12/8/2010 1:43:21 PM

Minnesota

They also sell traps.

12/8/2010 1:53:46 PM

Central Connecticut

Add traps to your priority list with the talstar and you should be in good shape. Since using that program back in 2008 I haven't lost a plant to the dreaded SVB. You can get the traps at http://www.extremepumpkinstore.com/

Check out this picture of the svb's and other bugs I caught in (3) traps http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=91785

12/8/2010 3:06:45 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

B/wacker...what is #39 in the photo on the right side of yer previous link? Looks like a lil tiny F16!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

12/8/2010 5:32:03 PM

Nicolaus, CA

Good evening all. Thank you very much for the information. As a farmer here in CA, I can get ahold of some Ag grade Bifen no problem. I will look at the traps too. These borers have also affected my potatoes and and melons in my garden this past season. I appreciate all of the advice on timing and placement. Much appreciated. Matt

12/9/2010 1:32:19 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

You might not be talking about Squash Vine Borers, but a different borer, as I have never seen a SVB go after a potato. Maybe a pickle worm, or wire worms

12/9/2010 7:59:50 AM

chilliwack, b.c. , canada eh

Hey prunfarmer, I don't think squash vine borers are a problem on the west coast. I would wait for input from other cali growers but we don't see any up here in bc. I've had almost zero bug problems in my patch.

12/9/2010 11:03:41 AM

Nicolaus, CA

Hey merrman, I agree, looking at Bushwacker's photos, these are not them. These little guys are smaller and hang out in the top 1" of soil. They can make swiss cheese of melon plants. I think they are Darkling beetles.

12/10/2010 2:36:49 AM