Grrr , bugs

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Found the problem with the zucchinis . Small black beetle type bug is eating the stems . Leaves behind a yellowish paste like substance . Any solutions ? I'm just sick , these plants were doing so well , just beginning to fruit . This is the first time for anything but grass where these are growing . I also found a small white grub of some sort right at the ground level of one plant , but I'm not sure if it was inside the stem or not . I guess it should be some consolation the cants are doing really really well , multiple fruits on most every plant .

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jump over . Anything I can do to help stop them ? I hate to use insecticides , but hate losing those plants more ...

[Billy]

I posted this already.

Good luck.

And just ignore the smell of burning martyr.

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Thanks to all who responded to this thread and my previous . Split the stems and debugged the two that are still alive . I'm trying to re-root one that was in really bad but still living condition . I'll be watching closely the next few weeks , though as far as I can tell I got 'em all . I checked for eggs and saw none of either plant . This is the first time growing zukes for me , and the only reason I'm growing them is for stir-fry because that's the only way I like 'em . Two plants , if productive , should supply more than we can eat ... oh , and the cants are clean , so far . Looks like I won't be needing chemicals yet , but the info I found with a web search says Sevin will be the "least-bad" choice should I deem it necessary . Hopefully it won't come to that .

[Billy]

Use Sevin, and kiss your zuchs good-bye. Sevin is a broad-band insecticide and will kill pollinators, which 90% of our crops need. They aren't just your pollinators, they are your neighbors pollinators as well.

[Steve Peek]

That problem is SO EASY to solve without chemicals. Just keep the lower stem area dusted with diatomaceous earth. The microscopic shards cut the interlopers to shreds. Steve

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Thanks !