Garden pest & animal profiles

Melittia cucurbitae

The adult is a stunning orange-and-black day-flying moth that looks like a wasp. Its larva tunnels inside squash stems. You rarely see the borer, only the sudden wilt of a healthy plant in mid-summer.

Hits

Zucchini, Yellow squash, Pumpkin, Winter squash (especially C. pepo & C. maxima)

First fix

Wrap stem base in foil at transplant

Vespula spp.

A black-and-yellow ground- or cavity-nesting wasp that preys on other insects for most of the season but becomes an aggressive nuisance around ripe fruit and sugary food in late summer and fall. Stings can cause a serious allergic reaction in sensitive people and pets; nests near paths should be treated with caution.

Hits

Grape, Apple, Peach, Fig

First fix

Pick up fallen and overripe fruit daily