![]() Source: Lon&Queta Common Name(s)Ĭentral America, the United States, southern CanadaĬucurbits such as squash, zucchini, pumpkin, gourds, watermelon, and cucumber Squash Bug Overview Squash bugs are destructive sucking pests. All Seasons Horticultural And Dormant Spray Oil.Good Products At Amazon For Controlling Squash Bugs: So let’s discuss how to identify squash bugs in the garden, and determine how home gardeners can treat and prevent squash bugs altogether. Both similarly lay eggs, but how you should act is different depending on what insect we’re talking about. There’s also a bit of confusion surrounding the difference between squash bugs and the squash vine borer. That’s why we’ve dedicated a portion of this piece to their most common host plants. They not only attack zucchini but are commonly found on lots of other cucurbits. What’s crazy is that squash bugs tend to attack winter squash varieties in the spring just as much as summer squash. That’s why is so important to identify squash bugs and take them out. ![]() They do a lot of damage and proliferate on plants too. Much like many common pests in the warmth of the spring and summer growing season, they suck plant juices from your beloved squash vines. If plants are flowering, be aware of pollinators and try to apply insecticides in a manner that does not directly harm them.One of the most hated pests is the dreaded squash bug. For best results, make sure to get good coverage on the undersides of the leaves where squash bugs typically like to hide. Several products can be used for squash bug management including carbaryl (Sevin), permethrin, and spinosad. Insecticides should be applied early in the season to manage nymphs because the adults are more resilient and difficult to kill. For heavier infestations or if more plants are affected, insecticide treatments are recommended. Physical removal of squash bugs may be effective if only a few plants are infested. As the season progresses, continue to watch for nymphs and check cucurbits for wilting or discolored leaves, as these are signs of a possible infestation. It is impossible to eliminate all of the eggs this way, but it is a good preliminary strike that helps reduce populations later in the year. When plants are young, check the stems and leaves for egg clusters and crush any that are observed. The key to managing a potential squash bug infestation is early detection. Simple fertilizing and watering of cucurbits is also advantageous, as it will make the plants more tolerant to feeding injury. Squash bugs tend to colonize the first suitable host in the environment, and a trap crop can serve as a lure that can then be treated and destroyed to greatly reduce squash bug populations. If you have infestations every year, consider using an early trap crop such as blue hubbard squash. Row cover physically prevents the squash bugs from colonizing the plants, but it can be challenging to use in South Dakota because of wind. Floating row cover can be used over seedlings up until the first female flower is present. However, rotations will not completely keep squash bugs from showing up because of their ability to fly in from other sites. Practicing crop rotation can greatly reduce their numbers as well. Avoid using mulches and clean up any debris around plants to eliminate shelter for squash bugs. ![]() There are several tactics to prevent a squash bug infestation. Squash bug nymphs congregating on a pumpkin plant. When disturbed, they will produce a foul scent and scurry away quickly. Squash bugs are commonly found in groups on the leaves, stems, and fruit of cucurbits (Figure 4). The injury caused by extensive feeding can result in wilting or death of infested plants. Nymphs and adults both feed by sucking the plant juices from the leaves and stems. There may be one or two generations per year depending on the length of the growing season. The adults continue to feed until the first frost when they seek shelter to overwinter. Over the next 4 to 6 weeks, the nymphs complete their development and mature into adults. Squash bug nymphs hatch in about 2 weeks and immediately begin feeding. The females lay eggs in clusters on the stems and undersides of the leaves between the leaf veins. Squash bugs first appear in early summer when overwintering adults emerge to feed, mate, and lay eggs on growing cucurbits. Squash bug eggs on the underside of a leaf.
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