Borer problem (I think)...what to do?

[Pearl]

Painful find today - multiple branches damaged by borers (I think).

Anyone have experience with this? I plan on spraying bt today.

 

[Kopper1013]

I forget who but someone here told me to take a needle and stab through the stalk wherever I thought they could be, seems to have gotten the ones I was chasing, I was also told spray wouldn’t do much as they are inside

my pics are shit but the red circle looked like where my borers were then if you look close you’ll see a line of holes where the needle went in on the second pic. I did on both the north south and East west directions….good luck

 

[strider26554]

Those are borers, corn borers to be specific. I get a number of them every year, there are a number of good publications online about the first and second generation of borers and what stage at will determine the right erradication process. its never pretty but i mange to control pretty well with organics, dead bug and several other not to plug a product but it works pretty well at killing the eggs which will be on the underside of the leaves usually near the middle of the plant.

 

[Pearl]

I forget who but someone here told me to take a needle and stab through the stalk wherever I thought they could be, seems to have gotten the ones I was chasing, I was also told spray wouldn’t do much as they are insideView attachment 1259933View attachment 1259935my pics are shit but the red circle looked like where my borers were then if you look close you’ll see a line of holes where the needle went in on the second pic. I did on both the north south and East west directions….good luck

Thank you for this. I feel your pain! What does the puncturing do? Did you do anything else besides that?

 

[Pearl]

Those are borers, corn borers to be specific. I get a number of them every year, there are a number of good publications online about the first and second generation of borers and what stage at will determine the right erradication process. its never pretty but i mange to control pretty well with organics, dead bug and several other not to plug a product but it works pretty well at killing the eggs which will be on the underside of the leaves usually near the middle of the plant.

Ugh okay. I image searched "corn borers" and it does seem to be that. I do like hearing that you manage to control them though...to make sure I'm looking at the right product - Captain Jack's Dead Bug spray? What others do you use?

 

[Kopper1013]

Needle just kills them (stabbing them) plant didn’t mind at all

 

[Pearl]

Needle just kills them (stabbing them) plant didn’t mind at all

Thank you!

 

[mysticepipedon]

The hole in the stem with the caterpillar poop all around it is the classic sign.

Outdoor growing requires a lot of pre-emptive Bt, IMO. Once you notice the damage, you've lost a bit of the crop already.

 

[Pearl]

The hole in the stem with the caterpillar poop all around it is the classic sign.

Outdoor growing requires a lot of pre-emptive Bt, IMO. Once you notice the damage, you've lost a bit of the crop already.

Yeah I realize it now. I lucked out last year - no pests at all until right until before harvest. This year is a completely different story.

 

[strider26554]

Peircing the stem with a needle, if your plant hasnt already suffered catastrophic damage can save affected branches or colas, if you can kill the invader and minmize the trauma after i kill the borer i will tape the affected branch with athletic tape and try to nurse the plant till harvest or maturity. these little fyckers have several phases and if you have them once chances are you will have them again. obviously what im suggestng would only apply to small growers like myself, youcoukdnt spend the time required with a huge grow. but i have reduced the damage and gotten plants to rejuvinate enough to finish up.