Squash bug, stink bug?

jerzyjen 2/27/2011, 8:25 am

So I've seen a few people discussing having problems with squash bugs so I googled it just to see what they were. Lo and behold they look a HECK of alot like stink bugs (if you aren't familiar, if you squish them with your hand it will smell horrible for a good week or so). I don't know if this is just a "south jersey" thing or larger, but we seemed to have quite an infestation in the fall of stink bugs (some call them "shield bugs"). Should I be worried for my spring garden? I still find stinkbugs in my house everyday (not like a million, just one at a time). Does anyone know if these are the same or close to "squash bugs". And here's the silliest question of all. Are squash bugs only a problem for squash, or do they attack other veggies (i'm not growing squash).

I am an idiot when it comes to bugs.

**camprn** 2/27/2011, 8:57 am

Squash bugs and stink bugs are not the same, though they are both TRUE BUGS.

There are some good, helpful links in this thread.
Also http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/

I had a link to an excellent resource bookmarked in my old computer. As soon as I find it I will post.

ander217 2/27/2011, 4:15 pm

Squash bugs will feast on any of the cucurbits - squash, cukes, melons, etc. but they seem to prefer certain varities of squash. After the SVB killed my butternut squash last summer the squash bugs moved over to the nearby muskmelons. They didn't bother our Moon and Stars watermelons, although I saw them occasionally on the cucumbers, but they didn't do much damage.

Stinkbugs are not as long as squash bugs, and they are much less picky eaters. After sucking the juice out of some of my tomatoes they hopped over to my okra and had a feast there, then table hopped over to the orchard for dessert.

Squash bugs don't have the same "aroma" as stinkbugs when they are smashed, either.

Neither are to be welcomed, but personally I'd rather have stinkbugs any day than squash bugs.

Sponsored content

Squash bug, stink bug?

Squash bug, stink bug?

Re: Squash bug, stink bug?

Bugs

Re: Squash bug, stink bug?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.