The pickle worms have arrived in Georgia. They love cucumbers and squash, doing most of thier damage to the fruits.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pickleworm

Yep, good old pickle worm.

Bugs/pests happen. Holes in leaves happen. All sorts of things cause them, even weather and old age, so don't worry so much about them. ;)

It helps to remember that it isn't a perfectly manicured golf course you are growing, it's a garden. And the only other alternative is to nuke the you-know-what out of it with chems which only makes the problems worse in the long run.

Also, do you guys know if a squash plant can recover if a SVB worm gets into the main stem?

Yes it can if you catch it in time and bury the cut stem.

As larvae, do they move from plant to plant? or do they just kill the plant/vine they are burrowed in and that's it?

No they stay where they are burrowed in. But one SVB doesn't kill the whole plant - just that stem of it.

Stage your plantings. When one squash plant gets too damaged, rip it out and plant some more seeds for another one. Break the habit, especially in your zone, of one-time-planting. We all lose plants to pests but we can plant off and on all season long - you even more so than I can. ;)

Relax, otherwise it becomes depressing hard work rather than fun. :o)

Dave

Thank you both for your uplifting and helpful comments. :) I like the plan, Dave, of not giving up and replanting if I lose a plant. :) I will definitely do that. Thanks so much! ally