What's eating my patty pan squash?

Patty pan squash shares the cucurbit pest profile: aphids spreading cucumber mosaic virus are the most damaging in the UK and Europe, while squash vine borer is the primary threat in North America. Slugs attack seedlings, and cucumber beetles chew leaves and transmit bacterial wilt. Good airflow and early monitoring matter.

Colonies on shoot tips and leaf undersides; distorted growth; CMV transmission causes mottled, stunted plants and misshapen fruit Weekly inspection; strong water jet; insecticidal soap; remove CMV-infected plants promptly; encourage beneficial insects with companion plantings of dill and fennel

Adults chew ragged holes in leaves, flowers and young fruit; larvae damage roots; transmits bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila), causing rapid whole-plant collapse Row covers until female flowers open; remove covers for pollination; pyrethrin or kaolin clay spray; crop rotation; interplant with blue hubbard squash as a trap crop

Seedlings decimated at night; holes in maturing fruit resting on damp soil; slime trails Raise transplants to 15 cm before planting out; ferric phosphate pellets; straw mulch kept away from stem; use pot feet or gravel mulch under fruit

Sudden vine wilt; larval entry holes at stem base with frass; plants die within days Foil-wrap stems; plant a second succession in midsummer to dodge peak moth flight; row covers early season; monitor with yellow bowl traps