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Identification
Clear-winged, wasp-like moth; cream-white larva with a brown head found tunnelling inside squash and pumpkin stems.
cycle
Life Cycle
One to two generations per year; overwinters as a pupa in soil, moths emerge in early summer to lay eggs at the stem base.
warning
Damage Signs
Larvae bore into the base of vines, causing sudden wilting of entire runners and a sawdust-like frass at the entry hole.
healing
Treatment
Slit affected stems lengthwise to remove larvae and mound moist soil over the cut to encourage rerooting. Cover young vines with mesh until flowering.
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Prevention
Rotate cucurbit crops and delay planting to avoid peak moth emergence where infestations are severe.