What's eating my cushaw squash?

Cushaw squash (Cucurbita argyrosperma) is a southern US heritage crop with notably strong resistance to squash vine borers — a key reason it is grown in the South where vine borers are severe. Its main threats are squash bugs and cucumber beetles. Aphids and stink bugs also feed on fruit late in the season.

Bronze egg masses on leaf undersides hatch into gray nymphs; colonies suck sap causing yellowing, wilting, and vine dieback; primary pest concern for cushaw. Intense egg-mass scouting and removal from transplant onward; hand-pick adults and nymphs into soapy water; board traps overnight; neem oil or insecticidal soap on nymphs.

Adult beetles feed on flowers and foliage; bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila) transmitted by striped beetle causes rapid plant collapse; spotted beetles also damage fruit skin. Row covers until pollination; yellow sticky traps; pyrethrin in evenings; remove wilted plants promptly to reduce wilt spread.

Feeding on fruit surface causes hard, discolored corky patches beneath the skin; fruit quality and storage life reduced. Hand-pick in early morning when sluggish; kaolin clay on fruit; pyrethrin or neem oil; in the garden perimeter, remove weedy overwintering habitat in autumn.

Colonies on young growth; virus transmission (Cucumber mosaic virus, Watermelon mosaic virus) distorts foliage and reduces fruit set. Reflective mulch; insecticidal soap; strong water spray; encourage beneficial insects with companion plantings of dill, fennel, or sweet alyssum nearby.