The following notes were made on this species secured at Hays, Ellis county, July 16-22, 1912 : In the earlier part of the season the galls or swellings on Cucurbita foetidissima are comparatively small and nearly solid, and the larvae within quite young. Both grow quite rapidly, however, and the caterpillar soon eats out most of its abode, leaving the same little more than a shell. At the above date numbers of the larvae are deserting the galls by a ventral or nearly ventral aperture, to enter the earth. By July 19 nearly all the galls have been vacated, and a few small terminal swellings containing young larvae remain.

Each gall contains but one larva, and is entire until the exit hole is made. As can be seen from plate XXXII, the galls are usually longer than wide; they may be of nearly uniform coloration, or else striped like the gourd. Though perhaps most frequent on the radiating and trailing stems, they may be developed from a leaf petiole, and more rarely from a tendril stem (fig. 8). They were found to vary in dimensions from about one to four inches (25-102 mm.) long, and from two-thirds to one and a quarter inches (17-32 mm.) in diameter.

- Francis X. Williams: (1913) Notes on Three Sesidae (Lepidoptera) Affecting the "Missouri Gourd" (Cucurbita foitidissima H. B. K) in Kansas.^©

Reference: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4401781#page/237/mode/1up