@User I performed a bacteria wilt test i found on youtube using the broken vine. there was no thickness/stringy to the interior of the vine. i also pressed on the other stems and didnt notice any exudate either (thank goodness!)

Sure looks like borers. They damage the base of the stem, and one whole vine goes kaput. Where are you? There are no borers on the west coast. Spring is when they attack.

@User I was gone last week but i had not noticed beetles before that, or the last few days since I have been back. I do regular pest check/removal each day (when i am home that is)

The soil was dry when i checked it yesterday; its been very hot here in Kansas the last 2 weeks so we have been watering twice a day. I gave it a extra long, deep, watering last night.

@daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa) I am in Kansas. oye!!! Im scared to ”surgically” remove the borers that may be there. im not so handy with a knife lol

@User not entirely sure. it was green and beautiful when I left 6/12, and half wilted when I returned 6/17.

i just went back out to look for bore holes and look who i saw at the base (x2)

Yep, that's a cucumber beetle, but it may not be related to your damage. As far as I know, adult cucumber beetles feed on foliage, and don't touch the stems. Larvae do damage roots, and I guess might damage stems, but I've never heard of that happening.

In case you were invested: 100% borers. We performed open vine sirgery and removed FOURTEEN LARVA. We cut off a few vines that were too far gone.

the larva were still quite small—none bigger than 1/4inch

My trellised plant will be hard to save since I cant bury the vines, so we made a dirt collar and then saran wrapper the higher areas. Fingers crossed maybe that works

@User

@daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

So yes, your cuke beetle was innocent. But cuke beetles are nasty in their own right. So you have TWO problems, not one.