Oh Poo--Those Stinkin' Squash Bugs

Razed Bed 6/29/2015, 3:05 pm

It had to happen. Three days of rain has washed away all of our protection, and that is all it took to find dozens of squash bugs on our zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, cucumbers, and pumpkin.

After going to the basement to retrieve the neem oil, I discovered that there is only a drop or two left. I have a tiny bit of D.E., so I have to go buy more of both.

My wife was out there trying to pick them off, but there are too many, and she just stepped in a glop of mud.

Windmere 6/29/2015, 4:53 pm

Oh wow, what a bummer. I hope you guys are able get you pest control supplies soon!

**sanderson** 6/29/2015, 6:37 pm

DustBuster. You can capture many in a short burst, time saving.

Windmere 6/29/2015, 7:11 pm

Ooh, that's brilliant! I bet that would work on the flea beetles on one of my eggplants.

**sanderson** 6/29/2015, 9:01 pm

Brilliant, yes. But, not MY idea. Very Happy

Small container of water and soap to dump the bugs in.

Razed Bed 6/30/2015, 2:20 am

Drat the luck! I am sitting in a pressbox watching the rain come down sideways in sheets with a long rain delay. 8 miles away, my wife informs me we haven't had one little drop of rain. I didn't water today as the chance was 100 percent for storms.

cricket 6/30/2015, 8:54 pm

I have gardened for over 25 years and never had a squash bug. Moved to a new area and was over run with the pests. I tried as their name suggested to squash them. First looking for the eggs under the leaves and squashing them. Hand picking them off and stepping on them to "squash them". After several weeks I finally just gave up. Told my sister that my crop of squash would be next to non-existant because of the bugs. Her reply, "I get out my small shop-vac and put soapy dish water in it. Every few days go out and vacumn up all the bugs I see." This really Works GREAT!

yolos 9/1/2016, 6:59 pm

I watched a lot of videos this summer on the problem of squash bugs. The best approach for me was to spray the base of the plant with pure water in the late afternoon. That causes the bugs to move up into the foliage. Then spray the bugs directly with insecticidal soap. Then a little later repeat the whole process again until you no longer see anymore bugs. Then wait a while (or in the morning) wash off the leaves with pure water so the leaves won't be damaged.

Here is a good video. This guy killed all stages of the squash bugs except the eggs using the soap spray. Spray bottle spritz.

Squash Bugs Must Die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7v9VvNzmhE

has55 9/3/2016, 2:33 pm

you can use heavy mineral oil in a spray bottle. It must be heavy, not light or it won't work. Spray bug with a fine mist once, keep going and spray the next one. don't need to stay to see them die. when you come back , they have died in whatever position they where in, such as walking, standing. You rarely see them on their back.

**sanderson** 9/3/2016, 6:46 pm

Has, Do you have a reference for the use of heavy mineral oil?

has55 9/4/2016, 7:07 am

sanderson wrote:Has, Do you have a reference for the use of heavy mineral oil?

myself. I did it several years, but got tired of turning over the plant leaves when it got very large. The reason you use heavy mineral oil is for the large, hard shell squash bug. Light mineral oil will do fine for the other stages of the squash bug, except the eggs. don't spray the entire plant. Only use it for spot kill, this way the plant does not suffer from suffocation. You need s strong hand pump for the heavy oil. any hand spray pump will do for the light mineral oil. soapy water works fine as yolo wrote. I was going to try DE and garlic at the base of the plant as my next experiment, but never got around to it. My wife told me today, that her Asian friends set plant pots with Cuban oregano next to the plants, like tomatoes, peppers and squash. the troublemaker don't show up. I will try this next year. Those living in Florida, Dstack, probably can try it now due to the warmer season.

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