Fantastic disease resistance and pest tolerance.
Our community garden was plagued by cucumber beetles (Diabrotica speciosa), squash bugs (Anasa tristis), and squash vine borers (Melittia cucurbitae) last year. The cucumber beetles in particular were a problem, as they are the primary vector of bacterial wilt in cucurbits (Erwinia tracheiphila); all of the squash were annihilated come July. As a testament to its vigor and apparent resistance/tolerance to both disease and insect pressure, however, this cultivar continued on without much of a problem. On account of this worthwhile predisposition, in conjunction with its excellent table quality, I would definitely recommend 'Butternut Rugosa' for trial in Southern Wisconsin.
