I'm lucky and have seldom been bothered by squash vine borers. Squash bugs on the other hand are extremely happy in my garden year after year. No, they don't actually eat the squash itself but rather suck the sap from the foliage and in the process of doing so transmit a virus to the plant, knocking it dead in a short period of time. Hand-picking them early on helps for a while but at some point it becomes too overwhelming when eggs hatch out by the hundreds and the nymphs take off in all directions.
You may have beat your squash vine borers this year because you planted late. In my area the adult squash vine borers are out and about looking to lay their eggs when the local chicory is in flower. If you have it growing in your area it is a great sign to grow by.
Enjoy that squash!
Shoe
