Radishes interplanted in hills of the garden targets help repel vine borers, as do wood ashes, camphor and black pepper sprinkled around potential egg laying sites. To remove the larvae from the stem, split the vines with a razor blade at the entrance hole and gorge them out or stab them to death. Heap moist soil over the plant wounds to aid healing and rooting. To exclude the insects, place foil collars around base of the stem or wrap pantyhose around the lower part of the stems. Butternut squash is the most resistant to this insect.
Nymphs are pale green with a reddish head and legs.
Eggs are shiny gold when laid, changing to red-brown. Look for them around the center leaf vein. They feed by piercing the plant tissue and sucking out the sap, and they look for dark, damp hiding places. Young plants are easily killed by these bugs, while older plants will suffer wilting leaves than eventually blacken and die. Keep the garden clean and free of dead plants.