Argh!!!!!
Spent close to an hour diligently inspecting the zucchinis (mostly the younger, less bushy ones) and parts of the winter squashes, picked off about 20 eggs. Most of the eggs were on the stems of the leaves. One or two were on ... a flower; a main vine; a baby zuke. I don't think any were on leaves. Removed them. Most were solo eggs, though there was small spaced out "cluster" of ~5.
Then, I arrive at the old zukes and what do I see: not one, but two adults flying around, laying more eggs! At least I was able to have visual confirmation that what I thought were the eggs, were indeed. They are very tiny, size of a pinhead. The adults fly around high and low, right to the low stems/vines under all the leaves. A single adult lays many eggs :-((((((
And, while looking for eggs, I happened to find a tiny worm (on top of a leaf or stem, can't remember which), which I can only imagine is an egg that hatched.
And, noticed an actual hole but no frass, on the solo bigger young zuke near the air conditioner. Used a knife to slit and try to find a worm, but didn't find one. Will the plant survive my knife?
Found some good articles:
http://groweat.blogspot.com/2015/07/squash-vine-borer-educational.html
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/squash-vine-borer-vegetables
https://blackgold.bz/beating-squash-vine-borers/ (good photo of tan frass)
Some varieties that may be less susceptible, for next year (https://homeguides.sfgate.com/squash-resistant-squash-vine-borer-77620.html):
- yellow crookneck
- Waltham butternut
- green-striped cushaw
- hubbard
- cucuzzi
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