Frank Thompson said:

most of my potatoes are dead or are dying...they wilt & ddie...pulled
them up to examine & at base of stem appears that some pest has gotten
inside the stem & eaten it away...did not see anything live...any
suggestions as to what it might be?

Plant pest handbook for potatoes:
http://www.caes.state.ct.us/PlantPes...%5Cpphpota.htm

Borers in potato:

Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer) -- eastern and central NA
Larvae tunnel into stems, weakening them so that they break; adult is a moth.
One to three generations per year.
Can be a problem, especially when potatoes follow corn

Trichobaris trinotata (Potato Stalk Borer) -- most of NA, except far west
Larvae hollow out stem of plants causing them to wilt and die; adult is weevil
One generation per year.
Eggs deposited singly into stems or leaf petioles.
Not usually a serious problem.

Papaipema nebris (common stalk borer) -- NA east of the Rocky Mountains
Larvae tunnel into stems; adult is a moth.
One generation per year
Normally feeds on grasses and weeds; not usually a serious potato pest

Phthorimaea operculella (Potato Tuberworm) -- Southern US
Larvae tunnel into stems and make burrows in tubers; adult is a small moth.
Eggs laid on leaves or on eyes of tuber.
Up to six generations per year.
*Serious pest of potatoes*
Control: http://www.aardappelpagina.nl/explor...instmthcon.htm
--
Pat in Plymouth MI

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