worms in stalks

[clovisman]

outdoor grow- have had a problem with some sort of worm or larvae eating my stalks- the pest enter the stalk at ground level and bore their way upward- have had several plants attacked in the last two weeks- they are hollow at leat 3 inches up from ground level- I have put 7dust on and around stalk base and supported stalk by wrapping paper tape around the wound- i have seen this before many years ago- I feel that since there has been NO RAIN here for 5 weeks all bugs have been attracted to my garden which is watered regularly- anyone had this problem and if so how to overcome it

clovisman Reviewed by clovisman on 08-28-2007. worms in stalks outdoor grow- have had a problem with some sort of worm or larvae eating my stalks- the pest enter the stalk at ground level and bore their way upward- have had several plants attacked in the last two weeks- they are hollow at leat 3 inches up from ground level- I have put 7dust on and around stalk base and supported stalk by wrapping paper tape around the wound- i have seen this before many years ago- I feel that since there has been NO RAIN here for 5 weeks all bugs have been attracted to my Rating: 5

[psteve]

You most likely have a pest known as corn borers.
The only thing I know to do for them is mostly only preventative, and won't help once they are already in the weed.
Next time you grow in that spot, sprinkle some boric acid on the ground around your plant. Be careful not to get any ON your plant, as it can cause stress, and hermaphrodites.
The good news is, they won't much effect the quality of the buds they don't eat.

[clovisman]

You most likely have a pest known as corn borers.
The only thing I know to do for them is mostly only preventative, and won't help once they are already in the weed.
Next time you grow in that spot, sprinkle some boric acid on the ground around your plant. Be careful not to get any ON your plant, as it can cause stress, and hermaphrodites.
The good news is, they won't much effect the quality of the buds they don't eat.

psteve- thanks for reply- the pest are eating the stalk from inside out-have not reached the buds- is there anyway to get rid of current infestation and save my plants from certain death?

[psteve]

psteve- thanks for reply- the pest are eating the stalk from inside out-have not reached the buds- is there anyway to get rid of current infestation and save my plants from certain death?

I don't know how to get rid of them. I've seen them many times all over the Midwest, and have been told about the boric acid for early prevention, but I don't know of anything that will kill them in a flowering plant.