Squash vine borer
Videos
The squash vine borer is a diurnal species of sesiid moth. The moth is often mistaken for a bee or wasp because of its movements, and the bright orange hind leg scales. The females typically lay their
Hawk moth 7294
Often, frass on the stem of a squash plant is the first symptom of infestation. The second symptom follows soon - the death of the plant.
Zucchini squash plant stem cut open to show borers
Life cycle
Frass
Videos
Frass refers loosely to the more or less solid excreta of insects, and to certain other related matter.
Squash vine borer
…of the infestation is wilting of the vine, and it is too late for control efforts at that point. Experienced gardeners watch the stems for signs of frass protruding from small holes, which is an indicator of the presence of the larva inside. Some gardeners carefully cut the stem along its axis and remove…
Bedstraw hawk-moth caterpillar leaving the frass behind
Typical sculpting of a frass pellet of a large caterpillar
A thistle tortoise beetle larva carrying a mass of its own frass as a repugnatorial defence.
Lepidopteran larva frass after soaking in water