Squash stem scouting
Inspect squash stems for entry frass, eggs and wilting. Check at-risk plants through summer; in November, focus on next season's crop protection.
MSU source and further identification MICHIGAN GARDEN INTELLIGENCE FIELD NOTE / 01
A living scouting desk, not a pesticide calendar
Know what to watch before the damage.
Your crop. Your growing season. The evidence that matters. We turn plant stages, official weather, and proven garden advice into a short field assignment you can actually use.
01 / YOUR FIELD ASSIGNMENTBAY CITY REFERENCE AREA
Where should you look first?
Start at the base of squash stems. Watch for unusual frass, eggs or sudden wilting during the growing season. In winter, plan prevention rather than treating summer pests.
Regional seasonal scouting guidance. This is not a report that pests are present in your garden.
02 / SET YOUR GARDEN
Tell us what's growing.
04 / THE WATCH LIST
Your next garden checks
Seasonal guidance for Michigan gardens.
This is a seasonal scouting list, not a real-time pest detection service.
05 / HAVE YOU SEEN SOMETHING?
A clue in the garden changes the job.
If you've spotted an insect or symptom, tell the desk which suspect you're investigating. We'll show the specific signs and what to do if the identification is confirmed.
Your selection appears in the shareable URL and may appear in browser or server request logs. We do not publish it as a verified sighting or submit a report to state authorities. Use the official reporting link for a suspected invasive insect.
What a warning can and cannot say.
Seasonal reference
MSU and land-grant Extension biology tells us which plants and life stages deserve periodic scouting. A month is an approximate Michigan growing-season guide, not an arrival date.
Weather favorability
National Weather Service hourly forecasts can flag broad wet or hot, dry scouting conditions. These are explicitly uncalibrated cues. A weather warning does not identify a pest or diagnose a disease.
Biological model
Species have different degree-day algorithms, thresholds and starts. The MSU cabbage maggot model and USA-NPN Japanese beetle model cannot share a generic heat total. Current event outputs remain unavailable pending parity testing.
Observe before treating
Check evidence, consider whether injury is meaningful, preserve beneficial insects and verify each product's Michigan registration and exact crop label before using pesticides.
Keep this checklist even without a live forecast.
For squash, inspect the base of vines and undersides of leaves. For tomatoes, check lower leaves for spots and new growth for caterpillars. For cabbage and kale, protect vulnerable young plants and turn leaves over for caterpillars. For beans, inspect leaf undersides and keep an eye out for Japanese beetles in summer. During Michigan winter, clean up badly infected crop residue, rotate crop families and protect beneficial overwintering habitat.
Explore the Michigan Gardening tool directory for frost, planting and other seasonal decisions.