Pickle worms are a yellow white caterpillar with black spots growing as large as 2cm. As they age they become green or brown with brown heads.Â
Pickle worm larvae ( top left)-NC Cooperative Extension Service, Young Larvae (top right)-Clemson University, Older Larvae(bottom)-Clemson University
DescriptionÂ
The adult is a nocturnal moth and are black with a yellowish white band on each wing. They have slender bodies with hairy scales on their abdomens. They are found in most parts of Southeastern United States and as far as Northern New York as well.
Adult moth-NC Cooperative Extension Service
Lifecycle
A pupae hibernates in rolled leaves and emerge in spring as an adult moth. Moths mate and lay eggs on hairy parts of the host plant. The eggs hatch and larvae feed on curcubits. There can be as many as 4 generations per year.
Damage on squash (top left), Larvae inside squash (top right)-photos NC Cooperative Extension Service, Damaged squash (bottom)-photo Ohio State University
Diet and Damage
Squash is the favourite of these pests but they also eat watermelon, cantaloupe and cucumbers. They bore small holes in stems, buds & fruit and eat the insides. Once they are inside the fruit feeding, fruit is seldom edible. These guys are a major problem when they are not controlled. Be sure to burn your dead crops that have been damaged by the larvae. This will kill any eggs that may have be laid. Mounds of greenish pile are found near infected fruit and that is the first sign you should treat your plants.
Control
1) Bt or Soap Sprays
At the first sign of the pest spray with Bt. Adults can be killed with insecticidal soap.
2) Plant Squash
Since squash is their favourite plant. Use a special spot for squash to attract them there. Control the pest on the plant and it will prevent an outbreak on your other veggies.
3) Rowcovers
Rowcovers can be used in late May and early June as this is when the moths first appear.
4) Keep your Garden Free of Debris
Adults lay their eggs in rolled leaves and garden debris so eliminating the waste from your immediate garden is a benefit.
5) Plan Your Crop Harvest
If you have this pest try to plant early varieties of cucumbers and squash since the problem with larva begins in late May early June. Rotate your crops every year.
Terri says
July 23rd, 2017 at 6:39 pmI’m in the Charlotte, NC area and arrived at this site after discovering those tell-tale holes in my cukes and squash – which were growing beautifully until a week ago. I’ve had to cut the plants way back and destroy so many growing veggies! This was my second year of veggie gardening (last year….my first….I learned the hazards of watering too much…and other mistakes) From what I am reading now, mid-July is ‘the’ time to be on the look-out. Well, at least I’ll know for next year!
I’ve also decided to try to experiment with some diluted essential oils in a spray bottle. I figure it can’t hurt at this point.
Lacey says
June 17th, 2017 at 5:15 pmCan you still eat your cucumber if there is one one hole in it?
Joshua says
May 27th, 2016 at 12:08 pmI lost my entire cucumber crop this year (58 plants), then my zucchini, and now my various squash plants are surviving only because I spend about 1.5 hours ever day searching under leaves and cutting open buds and fruits to kill them manually. I recently took a week off and nearly lost all my cantaloupe plants. I haven’t saved a single piece of fruit since I lost my cucumber plants, they become uneatable once they bore in and poop everywhere. Recently I tried putting pantyhose over young fruits before the worms got in and they ended up eating right through. This sucks hardcore because I really started my garden mainly because I wanted to grow pickling cucumbers because when I find them available in a market they are just as expensive as buying actual pickles! Hope next season somehow they miss my garden.
Mary says
July 15th, 2015 at 10:37 amThese little buggers are eating my cucumbers, zucchini,and cantaloupes. Ugh, its horrible to excitedly harvest several fruits or vegetables only to have them covered in holes, and as soon as you slice it open all these nasty little worms come slithering out. Not only that but they even attack the tiniest and youngest of my plants, burrowing into little cucumbers that are the size of a baby’s pinky or fuzzy little cantaloupes the size of a marble. My aunt suggested Neem oil and I will try and see if that works.
Barbara says
August 17th, 2016 at 9:03 amI tried neem this year but still had worms. Next year I’ll wrap them! New to North Carolina. Lots more bugs to figure out!
Barbara Bert says
July 13th, 2009 at 7:12 pmAloha,
Well, I planted cukes and squash in May and the plants grew hardy and beautiful, I picked some beauties and then came the pickleworm here in July. I noted little holes in my veggies and “frass” on the exterior and when I cut into them I was horrified to see green caterpillars inside and worse, those critters devoured good portions of the interiors. Local nurseryman identified them as pickleworms and said there was much I could do but recommended I try NEEM.
Sorry about your infestation over there on the Big Island.
sujata says
June 24th, 2009 at 8:50 pmthank for the scoop. i’m on the big island of hawaii and trying to determine if this is the culprit of zuchinni damage. and preparing myself for planting melons and squashes. wish me luck!!!