Quote:
Originally Posted by BigVanVader
I use it to kill them and leaf footed bugs. Then check under every leaf for eggs. When you find them spray with soap to lubricate then take a dulled point (I use little sticks that fall outta my oak tree) and scrape the eggs off. Dont worry about leaf damage, I just rip the piece off if it is near the edge, it wont hurt em much. Then check again every few days, like 2-3 until you stop seeing them. SVB's will be laying eggs soon so if you have BT id start spraying it asap. I also recommend starting squash seeds every 4 weeks here so you can replace any that get killed. I cover the little ones with row cover till they bloom then spray with Surround WP/DE.
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SVBs are most effectively controlled by dusting the lower stem near the ground with Sevin dust. It doesn't bother the bees which are up in the flowers but it does stop SVBs if you can keep it on the stems below the blooms and new growth. I have been doing this for years now after trying everything under the sun to slow the buggers down with only limited or no success. I have only lost a couple of plants to SVBs since starting this method of control and that was usually because I got sick of squash and quit dusting the stems. The trick is every time it rains or every time you water the squash well you need to go out and dust them with fresh Sevin again. If it is raining in the evening then really make the effort to go out first thing in the morning and dust the stems because the SVB moth seems to be most active just as the sun starts hitting the plants and for the next hour or two.
Bill