What works for Squash bugs?

kevinrs · March 9, 2018

They seem to get worse every year, and I don't have the time to try picking them off the plants every day, they eventually get overwhelming.
They start on the summer squash, then move to the winter, then any cucurbits remaining. If all that is gone I may see them even on tomato plants.

imp · March 9, 2018

Since I don't have nuclear war heads handy, I use Sevin dust if I get squash bugs. I don't like to use it, but sometimes it's go to a severe action or lose it all. I've tried a lot of other options, but if the squash bug population gets ahead of me, Sevin comes into play.

BigVanVader · March 9, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinrs

They seem to get worse every year, and I don't have the time to try picking them off the plants every day, they eventually get overwhelming.
They start on the summer squash, then move to the winter, then any cucurbits remaining. If all that is gone I may see them even on tomato plants.

Nothing. Your only real option is something really poisonous, succession planting, or row covers and hand pollination. I don't know why they haven't created a parthenocarpic squash yet but until then, good luck.

clkeiper · March 9, 2018

no idea if this will work or not but last year we bought nematodes and put on the garden. I also bought a bacteria to drench the seedlings with. there were good results with cucumber beetles so I am trying it on the squash to see if it helps there... otherwise just as BBV says.. nothin! and I mean NOTHIN' seems to kill them. I plant all Summer long. once a week I plant new seeds.

kath · March 9, 2018

I hand pick bugs and remove eggs...every...single...day.

Lucky to have the time to do it...I think!

clkeiper · March 9, 2018

If you choose to use sevin use it in the evening when the bees have gone way from the squash plants already. if you use it in the morning there will be bees on the flowers... being killed.

karla- · March 9, 2018

I haven't found anything to stop their wrath. This year I'm going to try and wait them out and plant in late summer to try and avoid them. At least in Texas they seem to come in waves of destruction and then leave for good once they've taken my squash dreams with them.

tarpalsfan · March 9, 2018

. Pick the adults. Scrape the eggs, smash the nymphs by the handful, if I keep getting that stinking juice on me, I will turn into one. I already reek like one. Squash bug Woman. Like spider-Man! Only stinky, and not cool.

.
Yes, I agree. If you have to use the dreaded Seven, do it in the evening. Keep it (Seven) away from your night blooming plants if you can. Trellising long vining squash and gourds helps a little. I can't grow most Summer Squash because of the squash bugs. I had some luck with Tatume.

roper2008 · March 9, 2018

I cannot grow zucchini because of the squash bugs. The one I can grow is Zucchino
Rampicante or Tromboncino. If you have the space, it's a good eating summer squash.

kath · March 9, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarpalsfan

. Pick the adults. Scrape the eggs, smash the nymphs by the handful, if I keep getting that stinking juice on me, I will turn into one. I already reek like one. Squash bug Woman. Like spider-Man! Only stinky, and not cool.

kath · March 9, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by roper2008

I cannot grow zucchini because of the squash bugs. The one I can grow is Zucchino
Rampicante or Tromboncino. If you have the space, it's a good eating summer squash.

This is true...the only zucchini that seems impervious. Oh, do you need space, though!!!

And also like either preserving MANY of them or having MANY who love to receive them.
Grew them one season only and then decided my 60' x 60' fenced space wasn't nearly enough.

imp · March 9, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by clkeiper

If you choose to use sevin use it in the evening when the bees have gone way from the squash plants already. if you use it in the morning there will be bees on the flowers... being killed.

Thank you, carolyn, I forgot to post that part. Sevin kills everything, so use it at dusk and I keep it off any flowers/buds as well. It's serious stuff that needs to be used properly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by karla-

I haven't found anything to stop their wrath. This year I'm going to try and wait them out and plant in late summer to try and avoid them. At least in Texas they seem to come in waves of destruction and then leave for good once they've taken my squash dreams with them.

Up here, mine don't stop. I don't even know where they come from, no one gardens for a fair bit around me, but come they do and the rodeo is on. I start out picking them off and the eggs, too, destroying them. If they overwhelm my efforts then I go ballistic as I am not going to lose all my crop.

Maybe there are squash bug movies, showing humans as a Godzilla creature to the squash bugs as they sit around eating up the garden?!

I don't LIKE using major stuff and try to use the most lower effect things first, i.e.picking bugs and eggs ( with a hand held vacuum1 works great), or a tobacco juice spray, but sometimes I have a choice - lose it or use the rough stuff.

roper2008 · March 10, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

This is true...the only zucchini that seems impervious. Oh, do you need space, though!!!

And also like either preserving MANY of them or having MANY who love to receive them.
Grew them one season only and then decided my 60' x 60' fenced space wasn't nearly enough.

I plant 2, but don't get too many, like you. Seems like just enough. I have a big back
yard for city standards, 1/2 acre. I just let it sprawl, but still have to move some of
the vines that get in the mowing paths.

I'm going to try Yellow Crookneck(my favorite)in my front yard. One plant and see if
I can keep up with adult and eggs.

Goodloe · March 10, 2018

"Squash bugs"...I don't grow squash; are y'all talking about what I call "stink bugs"? They show up in my tomato patch on occasion.

brownrexx · March 10, 2018

Squash bugs and Stink bugs are different. Squash bugs have narrower bodies than stink bugs although both emit an odor when crushed.

Squash bugs do not normally infest tomatoes only cucurbit crops.

Some organic methods of control would be to lay boards on the ground near the squash and flip them over in the morning and squish the adults that have hidden there overnight.

Remove mulch from around affected crops because squash bugs hide under the mulch.

Neem oil can be effective on the nymphs but not the adults. Of course Neem can also kill bees so you have to be careful with the flowers but Neem is not as worrisome to me as Sevin on my food.

Watch for eggs and tear off that part of the leaf and destroy it before they hatch. The eggs are too tough to smash.

March 9, 2018	#1
kevinrs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Littlerock, CA Posts: 218	What works for Squash bugs? They seem to get worse every year, and I don't have the time to try picking them off the plants every day, they eventually get overwhelming. They start on the summer squash, then move to the winter, then any cucurbits remaining. If all that is gone I may see them even on tomato plants.

March 9, 2018	#4
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	no idea if this will work or not but last year we bought nematodes and put on the garden. I also bought a bacteria to drench the seedlings with. there were good results with cucumber beetles so I am trying it on the squash to see if it helps there... otherwise just as BBV says.. nothin! and I mean NOTHIN' seems to kill them. I plant all Summer long. once a week I plant new seeds. __________________ carolyn k

March 9, 2018	#6
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	If you choose to use sevin use it in the evening when the bees have gone way from the squash plants already. if you use it in the morning there will be bees on the flowers... being killed. __________________ carolyn k

March 9, 2018	#2
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Since I don't have nuclear war heads handy, I use Sevin dust if I get squash bugs. I don't like to use it, but sometimes it's go to a severe action or lose it all. I've tried a lot of other options, but if the squash bug population gets ahead of me, Sevin comes into play.

March 9, 2018	#5
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I hand pick bugs and remove eggs...every...single...day. Lucky to have the time to do it...I think!

March 9, 2018	#7
karla- Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Flower Mound, TX Posts: 11	I haven't found anything to stop their wrath. This year I'm going to try and wait them out and plant in late summer to try and avoid them. At least in Texas they seem to come in waves of destruction and then leave for good once they've taken my squash dreams with them.

March 9, 2018	#8
tarpalsfan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Arkansas Posts: 206	. Pick the adults. Scrape the eggs, smash the nymphs by the handful, if I keep getting that stinking juice on me, I will turn into one. I already reek like one. Squash bug Woman. Like spider-Man! Only stinky, and not cool. . Yes, I agree. If you have to use the dreaded Seven, do it in the evening. Keep it (Seven) away from your night blooming plants if you can. Trellising long vining squash and gourds helps a little. I can't grow most Summer Squash because of the squash bugs. I had some luck with Tatume.

March 9, 2018	#9
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	I cannot grow zucchini because of the squash bugs. The one I can grow is Zucchino Rampicante or Tromboncino. If you have the space, it's a good eating summer squash.

March 10, 2018	#14
Goodloe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Steens, MS 8a Posts: 410	"Squash bugs"...I don't grow squash; are y'all talking about what I call "stink bugs"? They show up in my tomato patch on occasion.

March 10, 2018	#15
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Squash bugs and Stink bugs are different. Squash bugs have narrower bodies than stink bugs although both emit an odor when crushed. Squash bugs do not normally infest tomatoes only cucurbit crops. Some organic methods of control would be to lay boards on the ground near the squash and flip them over in the morning and squish the adults that have hidden there overnight. Remove mulch from around affected crops because squash bugs hide under the mulch. Neem oil can be effective on the nymphs but not the adults. Of course Neem can also kill bees so you have to be careful with the flowers but Neem is not as worrisome to me as Sevin on my food. Watch for eggs and tear off that part of the leaf and destroy it before they hatch. The eggs are too tough to smash.