Do you have any photos of the plants and bugs?

This is the larva. Was easy to find a pic online. Unfortunately I don't have pics of my plants. (dark out now... I can get some tomo.) The leaves were eaten away from the underside (where I found the caterpillars) but not the majority of the leaf was gone - just patches, where there is a "skeleton" left that looked like netting (vascular tissue?) .. and they all turned yellow, then got crispy and brown and withered away. I pulled them off; now I have like empty vines. There are SOME leaves on one vine, but two of the squash are now growing on leaf-less vines. Looks very sad to me ... hope there is a way to save them!

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the reply. I only have four plants, but I have pulled off six larva in the last three days. I HOPE it sends out some new vines/leaves! That would be amazing. If it doesn't, though... will the squash die? Plants need leaves to photosynthesize, but can the squash get enough nutrients to grow from the vines/roots? Is there anything I can do to help the plant get healthy again - like fertilize it some more or something like that? Thanks again for your help.

I continued to take care of it as if nothing was wrong. I will say I was squishing a cpl dozen of these wretched things a day. You may have another issue. Squash vine borers may be present. Look from the base of the stem out to the end for any small holes, sawdust like mass, or split tubes. You can Google the borers and what their 'frass' looks like. The butternut is supposed to be resistant but not bullet proof.

Other things to lookfor....is the base coming out of the ground firm or very loose rooted? That could be root rot. Did you over fertilize with nitrogen and burn the plant? What area are you located and what has the weather been like lately?

Pics may be a big help as there are some VERY smart and experienced people here that may provide furtherand more accurate assistance than I could. I can only share what I went through. It did take a decent period of time for real new strong growth to show on the zucchini.

My plant survived with dozens on these things on it, albeit there was quite a beating on it. Only six seems to be a very small amount, you may want to start from the ground up and really go through the vine closely.

Did the leaves wilt prior to dying? If so, may be a lack of water. They use a lot of water and fertilizer. Mine are in raised beds which increases the frequency of watering.

Pics, location/weather, and how you've been tending to the plant may bring about other solutions.

Looks like Mexican bean beetle larva. I think you could easily use diatomaceous earth or even an insecticidal soap on them. Also look for bunches of bright yellow eggs to smash.

So, I'm in CT - it's been a pretty dry summer lately, I think. And only really HOT the last few weeks. I don't THINK I under-watered - but of course that is possible. I watered really well yesterday and added bone meal. I've been fertilizing every month or so this summer ...

The vines on the two plants (There are three alive now, one each with a squash) that lost all the leaves are looking yellower and drier than the vine that has leaves. But I really cannot find any evidence of borers. Some cracks here and there - but those seem to be my fault, from turning leaves and vines carelessly when looking for pests.

Could be root rot, too, I suppose. Not sure how to gauge firmly rooted versus loose without a comparison. :/

Thanks again for all of the possibilities. I am a science teacher and I feel like I am doing my own projects at home. Fun and frustrating at the same time.

I have the same weather basically, east end of Long Island here.

You might want to take a soul sample to your local cooperativeand have it analyzed. The home kits are not so reliable, you water may dramatically affect the results. There may be a nutrient missing or too much of one that is burning the plant.

I water my squash daily. It's been dry here and I have raised beds so the ground dries out fast and fertilizer once every 10 days I guess.

It may just be stressed, too. The lack of a nutrient could cause that and if caught in time, you might be able to reverse it.

If you grab the stem and try to wiggle it about and you see it moving easily at the soil level or under it could be root rot.

Your best bet is to call your local cooperative and tell them what is going on and bring a soil sample. They have been very helpful with several of my issues.

Jim - You have been an amazing help! Thanks also for the tip about checking for root rot! I probably have not watered enough, fertilized enough ... I'll see about getting the soil tested. A lot to consider but I learned so much this one year; I feel so much better about next year, even if we can't save these plants. (Though I will try!)

Just passing on what I've learned from others. I'm good at repeating what I've been told, although not so sure I could explain specifically the how's and whys.

I know that squash takes a lot of water and food. If I am low on water then the leaves wilt/sag down until the get plenty to drink.

Yellow could be burning, iron deficiency, hydration, etc...I believe anyway. The cooperative will help for sure.

Good luck!