Squash The Veggie-Juice-Sucker With Organic Squash Bug Killer
May 18th, 2010 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn PestsAre your vine crops looking wilted and sucked dry of all their nutrients?
The culprit could be the squash bug, a.k.a. Count Squash Bugula.
The squash bug is a vampire of the insect world, that virtually sucks vine plants (e.g. pumpkin and squash) dry.
However, because holy water and garlic don’t ward off or destroy these veggie juice craving fiends, we must turn to other alternatives and protective strategies to stake these critters.
This article will explore:
Squash Bug Identification
Identifying a squash bug may save your vegetable’s life.
Adult squash bugs are usually gray or black and hard-shelled, while the edges of their abdomens are striped with orange and brown. The squash bug looks similar to the stink bug and also leaves distinct odors when squashed (pun intended).
They lay copper-colored eggs under leaves, in a V-shape pattern.
These pesky critters do their damage by piercing the host plant and sucking the sap out, which disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, slowly killing the plant.
If you suspect a squash bug is feasting on your vine crops check for:
* Eggs and squash bugs on the underside of leaves
* Stealthy squash bugs hiding on stems
* Yellow spots developing on your veggies that are turning black
* Wilting leaves
If the culprit is indeed a squash bug, there are natural ways to eliminate the pest to ensure the happiness of your squash.
Protection: Organic Squash Bug Killer
Using home and garden pest control products to eliminate bugs before their population grows too large may help your plants recover.
If you are looking for organic squash bug killers there are quite a few products and techniques that will help expel your pumpkin piercing problem.
Natural techniques to kill squash bugs:
* A Board
* EcoSMART
The Board Technique
The “board technique” is a luring trap for squash bugs.
On a warm summer evening, place an old board in your yard, because this will attract the typical squash bug whose favorite place to snooze is under one.
If you lift the board up in the morning and find a group of critters, you can slam it back down (did I mention the awful stench they leave when crunched?).
…or you can use EcoSMART.
EcoSMART Organic Bug Killer
EcoSMART offers home garden pest control products that serve as great organic squash bug killers. You can spray EcoSMART’s products right on your plants, and because they’re made with natural oils that only harm insects receptors, you don’t need to worry about the safety of your kids or pets.
If you catch the problem in time you’ll save your vegetable’s life, because EcoSMART’s organic products kill insects, mites, eggs and larvae quickly eliminating population growth.
How are you going to make your world famous organic butternut squash soup if your harvest gets sucked dry by the vampire squash bug?
8 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Jonathan Haffener on May 24, 2010
My family has had problems with Squash bugs for the last few years. This product sounds like the ticket and I would love to try it out.
By April Russell on Jun 11, 2010
I just found squash bugs on my many varieties of squash plants…..yuck!! I need help!
By Laura Underwood on Jun 25, 2010
I would love to have an organic pesticide for these buggers, trying to catch them and kill them makes me queasy
By Gray on Jun 26, 2010
I lost my whole garden to squash bugs! I’m sad. I am searching now for a plan of attack.
By Kylee on Jun 28, 2010
I need help getting rid of squash bugs asap! It must be an organic solution so I look forward to testing your product.
By Lisa on Jul 8, 2010
My Daughter LOVES ZUCCIHNI. I just found TONS of these darn bugs/eggs on our 2 plants. We are all organic and I am going to run out and get some of this stuff, because the citrus juice and rinds didn’t work that other sites mention. I sure hope this works and doesn’t break my budget. hmmm… NOw where do I get this stuff. Do I run or Mail????
By Steven on Jul 15, 2010
I have both Squash Bug and Vine Borer problems.
I am checking and removing by hand.
I just passed by this product this morning at Home depot and bought another OMRI labeled product. Why don’t you list the Squash Bug as a treated pest on your label? and why no OMRI cert on the Label!? Getting every surface, under every leaf when these buggers hide is difficult.
How frequently can it be re-applied?
By Tracy on Jul 15, 2010
Last year I spent all summer picking these bugs and eggs off my plants and squishing them. They smell horrible!
I tried companion planting this year in hopes that it would keep the squash bugs at bay. But to my dismay this morning as I went out to water my garden, I noticed a bunch of squash bugs on one of my squash plants. I was so frustrated! I started picking and squishing and killed all the ones I could find. So now I start the never ending battle like I had last year. I would love to try this product and see if I could spend less time picking and killing bugs this summer!