My zucchini row.
The part of the growing season I enjoy the most is after everything is planted and you just get to watch it grow until the harvest–or the weeds and pests take over. 
Today, it happened. I found squash bugs.
Because zucchini is on my list of favorite foods, the squash bug is enemy #1 around here. I have been known to spend several hours a day hunting them down and administering a rapid, painful death. This year, I don’t have near enough plants to keep me that busy; but I would take the time if I had to.
Let me tell you about squash bugs. This is what their eggs look like. You will need to inspect the underside of all your leaves on a regular basis. Once you find a cluster, squish them. If you have trouble squishing, I’ve been known to just tear that section of leaf out.
Squash bug eggs on a zucchini leaf.
This is what the squash bug looks like. They hang out on the underside of the leaves or at the base of the stems of the plants. They like to hide in the mulch. So if you mulch your garden, don’t put it too close the the base of the plants or you will never find those little critters.
Two adult squash bugs mating.
After I inspect every leaf, I go back and check for the bugs. I keep a cup of soapy water handy and when I find a bug I pick it up and drop it into the soapy water. The suds keep them under and they drown.
If you do not get a grip on these bugs from the get-go, they will get out of hand and will kill your plants–possibly before you even get enough zucchini (or other types of squash) to put up for the year. I have, a time or two, had that happen. When it does, I’ve had to resort to other measures.
First, let me tell you that pesticides do not kill them.
I once put a fence around my zucchini patch and put a few chickens in there. The chickens ate the bugs. That helped some, but it didn’t take care of the eggs and so they just kept coming.
The one thing that I did that worked great, when the infestation was really bad, was to use my vacuum cleaner. I had read in The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman that he uses a shop vac. The shop vac did not work for us because the hose was too big around to get a good suction. So my son just toted the bag-less upright out to the garden and sucked up all them little critters, eggs and all.
Others have told me to cover the plants with floating row cover until they flower to prevent them taking hold in the first place. I have tried doing that with no success. Not only does the row cover prevent the plants from growing to their full height, it only prolongs the infestation. It doesn’t prevent it.
What about you? What have you done to deal with squash bugs? Please share your experiences in the comments so that we can all learn from each other.
Blessings,
This post is linked to Simply Lives Thursday. And the Homestead Barn Hop and the Morris Tribe Homestead Blog Carnival.
I have had these bugs in varying degrees every year but never took the time to find out what to do with them. Usually I get a fair amount of squash and call it done. Now that I have this info, though, I can lengthen the season.
Thank you, Carol!
I tried to let them go one year and just planted more on the other end of the garden. But you know what? Those pesties found the new plants even faster.
Thanks Carol, Just found my first squash bugs this week too, and was wondering what I’m going to do this year because they really got out of hand last year. I think I will go move the mulch away from the stems right now!!! I am also trying some Neem oil….if it happens to work I’ll let you know.
Yes, Celia, let me know. Because diligent hand picking has worked the best for me so far and that takes a lot of time.
They destroyed all my zucchini plants last year. I have been manic about checking for them this year and now the squash vine borer killed my squash plant and is infecting my zucchini now. I also keep soapy water with me to drop them in. I also found that since I’ve been looking more often for them, they are hiding at the base more and laying their eggs there. I’m tired of fighting them lol!
Hi Andrea, I’m sorry they’ve been so aggressive on your squash. I don’t blame you for being tired, I’ve been there, too.
Carol, does insecticidal soap work? I just found some yesterday and put some diatemaceous earth on them. Do you think that will work?
Never tried that before, but I did try other topical applications and because they have such a hard shell, they didn’t work. My guess is the DE won’t cut through their shells.
Wonderful, informative post, Carol! Thanks for the info!
Anything to take care of the nasty beasties.
I had NO idea those were squash bugs. ACK! And I’ve seen them ALOT. Thanks for the visual…now to go take care of the nasty buggers.
I’ve seen these bugs and didn’t know they were squash bugs! We are growing squash in our garden. We’re going to inspect the row of squash tomorrow morning. Thank you for the pictures, both of the bugs and their eggs!
Wishing you lots of lovely squash!
xo
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Ahhh, I have been cursed with squash bugs many times in the garden. Now, I plant nasturtiums with my squash, usually a week or two before to ensure that they will flower before my squash. The strong scent of the nasturtium flowers masks the scent of the squash blossoms so the bugs do not stop to eat your plants. I have used this method the last few years and so far I have had no squash bugs.
Sharon! Where have you been all my life? I need you to move next door and mentor me
. Next planting, nasturtiums it is. I believe they are edible, too.
Nasturtiums are indeed edible – the whole plant, I believe. I’ve only used the blossoms, tossed into salads or stuffed with a little cream cheese. They have a bright, peppery flavor. Such a beautiful flower and a tremendous help in the garden. I’ve planted them every where and they are certainly holding up their end of the bargain!
Thanks Sarah. Nasturtium seeds are now on my list.
I had a very similar post a couple years ago (http://allboyhomeschool.blogspot.com/2009/06/plan-of-attack.html) I had an ally that year, but usually I do much of what you do- pick them off, throw them in soapy water, squash the eggs. Last year we grew scalloped squash and they liked them better than the zucchini. I didn’t care as much for the patty pan’s so it was a nice compromise. I grew more this year just so that if I had squash bugs they would go for them first and leave the zucchini for me. I will have to remember the tip from the previous comment about nasturtiums though.
I always think of the rhyme in a little house book when I’m planting that says something about planting one for the crow and one for me. You’re onto something there, Sarah. Thanks for stopping by.
We had our first experience with these last year and the bucket method was all that worked too. However a reader shared with me on facebook yesterday that they have had success with using biodegradable dish soap mixed in water sprayed directly on the bug. I tried it and they’re dead in seconds, it was amazing! I sampled it in Japanese beetles and it worked with them too.
I’m going to see if I get the same results with a more natural castile soap, but in the meantime this method will suffice. Hope you get control of your problem!
Thanks for sharing, Quinn. Your comment reminded me that one year I tried an all natural bug and wasp spray made with essential oils. It worked, but only on the bugs I could hit directly. Thing is, they’re not so easy to find. Then a bazillion more hatch out in the eggs.
I heard that you can plant radishes around the squash plants. I am trying that this year. Hopefully it will work.
Thanks, Donna. Let us know how it turns out.
I use duct tape to remove the eggs from the leaves. Cut a piece of tape and make a tube sticky-side out and slip over your 1st and 2nd finger. Press against the eggs. Adult bugs can be trapped by touching them with the tape. Also, reverse wrap some stems and the bugs will get stuck as they walk over the tape.
Excellent idea, Sam. What would we do without duct tape?
I was sick over what happened to my squash and cucumbers last year, so this year I planted white radishes next to my plants and I have been staying them with diluted fish fertilizer and I think the combined stench is keeping them away. The bonus is the plants love the fish emulsion. I love the duct tape idea though!
I am new to gardening this year and love it, except that is for the squash bugs! Before I could get a handle on them they destroyed my once beautiful and bountiful zuchinni plant.
We have used insectisides (Orhto home defense) and it works on the adults and young, not the eggs. Those you have to cut out a small section of the leaf and squish. Which by the way is very gratifying!
If you don’t want to use an insectiside, use soap (dish soap is great) and water. Mix it in a spray bottle and attack! I am a little squeamish and don’t like picking the adults off and squishing them.
In my research I have read that you should burn the infected leaves (once you have cut them off) and the plant as well. We have done this to ensure that if any were still living they had no chance of coming back to the healthy plants.
Do what Carol says and check your garden every day, it is the only way to combat these little pests. Good luck!
I do bug checks all day long. It is time consuming and some days exhausting depending on how many plants you have but I don’t not use any pesticides and have read so many times that they don’t work. I keep a jar of lemon soap water for all bugs. When I see the eggs I remove the entire stalk and put a dab of soap on the cluster of eggs and dispose.
Last year, I planted zucchini in an “upside down garden patio” when I planted them I used “white” stockings when I planted then in the soil. I rolled them back to the edge of the planter and as the plant grew I’d roll it down the base and held it with a bread tie. It was the best control year for me. As I did my bug checks I could easily see the squash bugs and the 6 squash bugs I seen were mating and I just pop them in my lemon soap water and the few clusters of eggs I seen I cut the entire stalk down to the base of the plant and put a dab of soap on them and disposed. Squash bugs are tricky, one year when I cut a stalk that had a cluster of eggs under the leaf, I seen two eggs on the actual stalk, which I thought was interesting so I check ever so throughly. In the end I thought the “white” stocking worked well and vine borers didn’t penetrate the stocking either as I rolled the stocking down the base. Definitely doing it again as I was pretty satified. I had given up on growing pumpkin but this year will be giving it a try with the white stocking. Good luck with your gardens !
Wow, Melanie. I should have you do a guest post sometime! Thanks for sharing
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