What's eating my 'tromboncino' squash?

Tromboncino squash, like all Cucurbita moschata, faces serious threats from squash vine borers, cucumber beetles, and squash bugs. Its vining moschata genetics give it some vine-borer resistance compared to C. pepo, but not immunity. Deer and groundhogs will readily eat leaves and young fruits if not excluded.

Sudden wilting of an entire vine; sawdust-like frass at base of stem where larvae have tunneled inside. C. moschata is more tolerant but not immune. Wrap base of stems in aluminium foil to deter egg-laying. Apply Bt or spinosad to stem bases weekly when adult moths are flying (yellow/orange wasp-like moth). Bury damaged vines to encourage re-rooting.

Adults chew leaves and flowers; also vectors bacterial wilt, which causes rapid whole-vine collapse even after beetle removal. Use row covers until flowering. Kaolin clay on foliage deters adults. Yellow sticky traps monitor populations. Remove wilted vines promptly to limit spread.

Clusters of bronze egg masses on leaf undersides; nymphs and adults suck sap, causing leaves to yellow, wilt, and develop black edges. Check undersides of leaves daily and crush egg masses. Remove debris where adults overwinter. Neem oil on nymphs; hand-pick adults into soapy water.

Deer strip leaves and young fruits overnight; groundhogs (woodchucks) chew through vines and hollow out developing squash at ground level. Install 8 ft deer fencing or use motion-activated sprinklers. Hardware cloth buried 12 inches underground deters groundhogs. Repellents (predator urine, soap bars) offer partial deterrence.