And as much as you enjoy the freshly-plucked fruit, there are several garden pests who feel the same way about nibbling on your zucchini plants.From the tiny aphid to the colorful cucumber beetle, there are a lot of creepy crawlies around that can’t wait to get their teeth into your veggies.While the list of pests that can attack zucchini may seem long, with some quick action, most of them are easily dealt with.These tiny 1/8-inch long bugs may be black, red, green, yellow, brown, or pink, depending on the type.Zucchini plants impacted by aphids may be stunted or have curling, yellowing, mottled, or dry leaves.The first step is to spray plants with a blast of water from the hose to knock the pests loose.Beneficial insects such as ladybugs, syrphid flies, lacewings, and parasitic wasps are all natural enemies of aphids, so encourage them to take up residence in your garden.You can do this by planting nectar-rich flowers, such as anise hyssop, black-eyed Susans, or bee balm, and herbs like fennel, Queen Anne’s lace, caraway, mallow, and cilantro.Also, limit fertilizer use because according to experts at the University of California’s Integrated Pest Management Program, too much nitrogen can favor aphid reproduction.As noted by horticulturalists at the University of California, pesticides may kill off the pollinators and beneficial insects that your garden needs to thrive, so I recommend avoiding these methods.There are two types of cucumber beetles: spotted, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi (also known as the southern corn rootworm), and striped, Acalymma vittatum.As Ric Bessin, extension specialist at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture reports, cucumber beetles are a major pest for zucchini crops, not only because of the damage they cause, but because they spread the deadly bacterial wilt disease.The larvae begin feeding underground, and then emerge in the late spring or summer to find a plant to nibble on.The plants should be spaced between 3 and 8 feet apart when mature, so that they have enough distance to attract the bugs without being so close that the pests can hop back and forth.You can also use floating row covers in late May to early June, but be sure to remove them for an hour a day once plants start to blossom, so the flowers can be pollinated.While the presence of the adults in your garden is no big deal, the cutworm larvae can chew through the stems of plants and kill them.Cutworms are plump caterpillars that may be black, brown, gray, tan, or dark yellow.While they look similar to some other types of worms you’ll find in the garden that may not be damaging to your plants, you can be pretty sure you’re dealing with cutworms if they curl up into a C-shape when you disturb them.Be aware, however, that because you’re providing food for the pests, you’ll need to go outside every single day to find and kill them.Gretchen Voyle from the Michigan State University Extension recommends avoiding pesticides, since they aren’t always effective.Regardless of the type, adult leafminer flies lay eggs inside leaves and when the larvae emerge, they chew their way through the foliage of plants.Plant dill, Queen Anne’s lace, cilantro, and fennel nearby to encourage them to come to your garden.Spider mites can produce up to 20 generations in a single year, and they prefer hot, dry weather.You should also go outside and spray down your plants with water every day for two weeks if you see them, to knock them loose and create an environment that they don’t like.They overwinter in sheltered places, emerge in the spring to mate, and lay eggs in early June.Adults lay copper-colored oval eggs on the undersides of leaves and there is usually just one generation of these insects per year.If you see egg clusters, usually located where the veins of your zuke leaves form a “V,” wipe them away with gloves coated in petroleum jelly.If you do decide to take the pesticide route, use a permethrin insecticide and apply it early in the season, during the nymph stage.Adult squash vine borers, Melittia cucurbitae, look a bit like orange and black wasps with metallic green wings, though they’re actually sesiid moths, known for mimicking Hymenoptera species.If you see (or hear) squash vine borers buzzing about, put floating row covers on your plants for two weeks.If you choose to apply pesticide, do it when vines begin to run and use a product containing carbaryl, permethrin, bifenthrin, or esfenvalerate.Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, are the most common type, but there are other species that attack zukes as well.If so, spray plants daily with a strong blast of the hose for a week to force thrips off your crops, and make sure to keep your garden weed-free.Whiteflies also leave behind honeydew, as aphids do, which can attract ants and cause mold to develop.Reflective mulches are effective at deterring whiteflies and yellow sticky traps can help reduce the number of bugs in your garden. .
What is eating my zucchini? #474249
Also, be sure to plant them in an area with good air circulation and plenty of sun.The physical damage to your leaves could be caused by chewing insects, such as caterpillars or slugs, or mammals, such as chipmunks, groundhogs, voles, rabbits, or deer. .
What is eating my zucchini leaves?
These arachnids come out when the temperatures rise and colonize your plants if left unattended.These arachnids come out when the temperatures rise and colonize your plants if left unattended.These insects overwinter around your garden, waiting to move onto your zucchini plant and lay their bronze-color eggs.These insects overwinter around your garden, waiting to move onto your zucchini plant and lay their bronze-color eggs.For clarity, these pests are related to dogwood borers but fly during the day even though they are moths.And although the adult moths may not eat your zucchini leaves, their larvae will surely do.Floating row covers work well with relatively large insects like cucumber beetles while allowing light to shine on your crop.Some insects lay their eggs on the zucchini leaves in view for you to find them.But other insects are more sneaky and will hide their small eggs, making them virtually impossible to detect until it is too late.Then again, some insects are just borers and tunnel into the main stalks of your zucchini and degrade the plants’ integrity.Groundhogs are herbivores and like to eat your veggies, including your zucchini plants.And sadly, groundhogs can bring huge crop losses because they move underground, and no fence can stop them.And sadly, groundhogs can bring huge crop losses because they move underground, and no fence can stop them.Rabbits eat zucchini because these veggies are beneficial supplements for their diets.Rodents like rats and squirrels love eating zucchini plant leaves and fruits.But if you find proof that those pesky mammals visit your vegetable garden, inspect your plants. .
Do deer eat zucchini flowers?
Zucchini blossoms have a special place in your cuisines from salads, risottos, pasta, and soups; there are many ways we can enjoy these flowers.Beyond their stunning colors, zucchini flowers have a slightly fragrant scent, which boosts the aroma in your garden.Unlike the rest of the plant, deer love zucchini flowers.They are highly perishable and enriched with vitamins and minerals, making them attractive to deer.Raccoons, skunks, rabbits, rats, and groundhogs are all attracted to zucchini blossoms.You can also discourage deer by creating a wall of fishing filament stretched about 3 feet off the ground.You can also spray repellents on your zucchini flowers to stop deer from eating them.Row covers will let in light but will require that you pollinate your zucchinis by hand.To protect your zucchini blossoms from deer or other animals, use these deterrent methods outlined in this article. .
How to Protect Your Vegetable Garden From Animals
When thinking of animals that prey on your veggies, your first thought might not be a slug. .
How to keep animals from eating your harvest
Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, squash, okra and all sorts of summer edibles should be maturing in droves in your garden by now, rewarding your springtime diligence.Animal pests assume you’ve kindly planted all of these tasty crops for them, and since they have nothing better to do all day than hunt for food, they often beat gardeners to the dining table.Or they’re small enough that they can only eat young plants, such as newly emerged bean seeds or tomato transplants.Add an extra measure of protection by wrapping cylinders of small-opening fencing or hardware cloth around young plants or newly seeded beds.Two-liter soda bottles split vertically also can wrapped around young plants to make free “stem protectors.”.Birds – generally a gardener’s friend for eating bugs and singing so nicely – also do their share of food-stealing and damaging since they can easily swoop in from above.Short of building a screened-in greenhouse, your only hope of getting ripe blueberries is to drape netting over your ripening bushes.That goes for other fruits that birds and/or squirrels also target, such as tomatoes, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches and nut trees.Birds can peck through thin netting, and it also tears easily after getting caught in branches.You’ll find numerous brands of these in garden centers, usually made out of ingredients that are pungent, stinky or bitter-tasting (including urine from predator animals like fox and bobcat).Some gardeners make their own repellents out of ingredients such as rotten eggs, hot pepper sauce, garlic, ammonia, human hair, mint oils, etc.Some people set out radios or other noise-making devices to fake animals into thinking there’s ongoing human activity nearby.I’ve tried gizmos such as plastic owls, scarecrows, ground-vibrating spikes, shiny Mylar tape, and hanging pie pans and old CDs, but none of them worked very well for long (if at all).I've seen conflicting reports on the effectiveness of ultrasonic devices that supposedly make high-pitched sound that we and our cats and dogs can't hear but that pest animals do.Lititz-based Woodstream Corp. makes the best-selling line of Havahart cage traps that come in a variety of sizes (not to mention all sorts of other animal-solving products).Chipmunks and groundhogs trap fairly easily, but it’ll take more perseverance to get voles and rabbits.Even if you can, it takes time, effort and gas to move them far enough away that they won’t just walk back to their favorite buffet (also known as your garden).(Note to animal activists: I'm not advocating it... just trying to give thorough and unbiased information to readers of varying viewpoints.).They’re very adept at chasing them down… and they may even bring back dead carcasses to show you their hunting prowess.Read how to deal with deer in the landscape, including a list of deer-resistant plants and a homemade deer-repelling recipe.
.
woodchuck eating squash plant leaves
For the record, this woodchuck has lived out back in a very sububran neighborhood for at least 7 years and he is huge.Mostly he just eats weeds and the grass, but he's getting braver now in coming close to the house where the garden is located. .
Can Dogs Eat Zucchini? – American Kennel Club
Without fail, my Cocker Spaniel makes a beeline for the garden every time she is given the opportunity.Many dogs enjoy veggies, and vegetables can be a healthy treat in moderation — as long as they are not harmful.As with any human food, there are things you need to know in order to make sure you are feeding zucchini safely.This prolific plant delivers lots of fiber, vitamins, and minerals in each long, green squash.You can avoid this by chopping zucchini up into small pieces, or steaming it for dogs that have difficulty chewing.Baked goods contain unnecessary calories that can lead to obesity, and the fat and sugar content in these foods can cause upset stomachs and other symptoms of intestinal distress.The flowers of the zucchini plant are actually edible and are often cooked or fried for human consumption.However, if your dog is roaming your garden, you may want to do an inventory of what else you have growing, to make sure he is not eating anything besides zucchini that could be potentially harmful. .
How to Get Rid of Squash Bugs
Squash bugs are very difficult to manage once their numbers get out of control and can cause a lot of havoc.Generally, they attack young tender plants and seedlings, causing them to wilt and die. .
What Animals that Eat Zucchini? (9 Animals with Pictures) – Animal
The animals that eat zucchini are deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, woodchucks, mice, rats, dogs, insects, and more.Zucchini is a summer squash which is native to America and it is one of the most popular vegetables in the world.Zucchini is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, and it contains a small amount of protein.Deer Rabbits Squirrels Raccoons Woodchucks Dogs Rats Mice Insects.Deer are fond of many garden plants, but they will eat almost any vegetable that is grown in the United States.Squirrels will eat zucchini, squash, pumpkins, and a variety of other garden plants.They also like to eat birdseed, and if they are not careful, they will carry the seed back to their nest and cause the next generation of birds to be born with an appetite for zucchini!Raccoons are a common pest that feed on a wide variety of garden plants, including vegetables such as cucumbers, squashes, and zucchinis.Raccoons can be a nuisance because they will dig through trash and leave their waste behind, and their large size makes them difficult to avoid.Raccoons will eat most of the time, but when they are in a good mood, they may bring home food for their young.Rats are attracted to garden vegetables such as zucchini because these plants provide a continuous supply of food.They will chew the stems, leaves, and blossoms until they are damaged enough that they can enter the plant and eat the fruit or seeds.The rat will eat the fruit from the bottom up leaving the blossom end intact which is where most of the nutrients are located.The mice will consume the plants at night, chewing through stems and leaves and eating the fruit.Woodchucks, ground squirrels, and chipmunks also enjoy eating zucchini, as do many insects.Rats and mice also enjoy eating zucchini, as do many pet owners who leave their animal’s food out where it is accessible to them. .
