The Scourge of the Squash Vine Borer

I lost 5 out of my 6 Zucchini plants over the last week, all do to the Squash Vine Borer. I may have been able to save the 6th one by cutting open the stem, and cutting out the larvae with n exacto knife, and then covering the stem of the vine with some compost, in hopes that it will root higher up the stem.

There seem to be many remedies for the pest. Insecticides may be the easiest solution. Other people claim injecting the Zucchini stems with a bacteria called Bt or Nematodes will kill the larvae in the stem. They also suggest covering the plants with "Floating Row Covers" which would mean I'd have to hand pollinate, or remove the covers once the flowers appear.

Next year I will have to be very observant looking for the first signs of frass and cut out the insects.