Up in Maine, I’ve had a few pests show up from time to time, but nothing really major. I get the occasional Japanese Beetle, and twice, when I’ve harvested, I’ve discovered stem borers, but they didn’t seem to do much damage to the plant.
Yesterday I was checking my deck plants, and discovered this:
What fresh hell is this? The main stem has been scraped/peeled for about 2-3", there was this white jelly stuff surrounding the wound, several smaller branches wilted…
Anyone know what this is?
Well, looks like mold to me. Stem is rotting 
Wooly aphids?
Thinking it might be Planthoppers:
There’s something looking very much like that at the bottom center of the picture in OP.
Learned something today 
They could be mealy bugs, they also provoke mould … 
They both show up mid summer for me, but in small numbers. I only do a few plants outside, so it’s easy to see them early, usually. I don’t know what ipm you’d use for them, but I enjoy the thrill of the hunt on the fuzzy hoppers. The way they shift around to the backside of the stem…
Top half of that plant is now dying. Will post pics once it’s light enough.
Well…got a look at the little BUGGER this morning…
Here’s the impact:
Kudos to the comment about running around to the other side of the stem to hide…that’s exactly what the fuqer was doing.
Yo, that sucks. I’ve never seen them take down a main like that, most of my loss has been when they “web” the bottom of a bud 
how you holding up neighbor? this heat and humidity is kicking my ass. i had the worst ever powdery mildew break out in my flower garden this year that i have ever seen. it did not make it to the grow garden thank god. but it was really thick and built up not quite as bad as what yours looks like, so i am wondering if maybe them wooly aphids are here too? and i just thought it was powdery mildew, all over the phlox.
hope you are well.
We’re doing ok. A/C in the living room is running 24/7, so it’s bearable. Had shoulder surgery 2mos ago, waiting on an appt. for my knee now. This getting old ain’t for pussies.
Other plants seem to be ok. Few japanese beetles.
There’s a member on here that absolutely swears by sulfur to completely eliminate/eradicate PM on plants/greenhouses, etc.
I’ve got the sulfur, but haven’t had the chance to use it yet.
i use the sulfur powder / spray. when i saw the mildew in the flower garden i went into panic spray mode. 
sprayed everything heavily.
don’t spray on plants in flower stage, veg only maybe first signs of transition but no later. smoking sulfur is bad.
Japanese beetles here also doing a job on the grape vines.
i hear ya on aging. sucks out loud! i am with ya knees back heart, and left shoulder starting to knock on the door. i am hoping 2yrs or less and will have house payed off so maybe i can slow down?
good to hear from you take care.
Get some milky spore, hit the lawns with it this year. By next year the colony will be formed, no slugs.
No slugs = no Jap Beetles, and it’s not harmful to anything else.
I’ve got this on my list as soon as the heat breaks. The Japanese beetles and green June bugs are driving me insane.
Any brand or place you recommend?
I buy it from Amazon
Well…same thing has hit a second plant. This plant is roughly 75’ from the first plant.
Saw no bugs around this…just destruction of the outer layer of the stem. The first plant it was about half way up…this one is much closer to the base.
If you zoom in, you can seen small black balls that are embedded in the stem.
Eggs?
For Science, Take one of the black balls off and cut it open with a razor blade.
Because inquiring minds need to know.
Will do when we get back…on they way to catch a ferry to Cranberry Island this morning
