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Squash Bug Organic Control: Squish ‘Em Before They Squash Your Squashes

February 23rd, 2010 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn Pests

You work hard to in your garden. You weed it, water your plants and take special care of the fruits and vegetables that you grow. Pests, like squash bugs, are not welcome visitors after you’ve worked so diligently to grow squash, pumpkins and other plants. If you know what squash bug damage looks like and when and where to attack these bugs, squash bug organic control is easy.

Read on to learn about:

• Squash Bug Damage
• When to Attack
• How to Attack

Squash Bug Damage

Unfortunately, there are all types of pests and fungi that can attack your plants. You can’t stop the attacks if you don’t know the source. But if the problem is squash bugs, there are specific signs that they are the culprits.

How do they do it?
Squash bugs literally suck the life out of your plants. Squash bugs damage crops by sucking the sap from the leaves of the squash or pumpkin. They pierce the leaves with their mouth parts to feed on the plant. If the plant cannot withstand the amount of feeding, you will start to see damaged leaves around your garden.

What do damaged plants look like?
Once leaves are attacked, plants show signs of injury. Leaves wilt rapidly and eventually turn black and crispy. In the early growing season, young plants are especially susceptible to death by squash bug. Older plants are hardier, but excessive feeding will still kill them.

Before leaves turn black, you may notice yellow spots which then turn brown. These are the first signs that squash bugs are using your plants for food. This is the time to attack with squash bug organic control.

When to Attack

Just like most organic control, timing is everything. It is crucial to control squash bugs when plants are young and beginning to flower. Females begin laying eggs in early June and through mid-summer. Eggs will hatch within 10 days and then nymphs mature to adults within 4 to 6 weeks. Squash bugs are less of a threat later in season, so start squash bug organic control early.

IMPORTANT: Get rid of squash bugs as eggs and nymphs, adults are harder to kill.

Where to find young squash bugs
Eggs are usually in clusters of about 20 and on the undersides of the leaves. Specifically, you will usually find them between the veins near the stem of the leaves. Stems are also likely spots for eggs.

Now that you know when and where to find squash bug eggs and nymphs, time to discuss what kinds of organic home pest control works best on squash bugs.

How to Attack

EcoSMART products, such as the Ant and Roach Killer, can control home pest problems, like squash bugs.

But there are preventative measures you can take so squash bugs are less likely to dine in your garden.

Squash bug organic control includes:

• Proper fertilization of plants to produce stronger squash to withstand squash bug attacks.
• Plant more resistant squash like Butternut, Royal Acorn and Sweet Cheese.
• Squash bugs winter under crop debris, clean this up so they have no where to hide.
• Check leaves for egg clusters, then handpick and destroy them.
• Drop nymphs and adults into soapy water to kill them.
• Lay out boards for squash bugs to hide under at night, then collect them in the morning.

Squash bug organic control does not have to be difficult. Just take a few preventative measures and use EcoSMART on any that find their way into your garden. Don’t let squash bugs squash all your hard work this spring.