Squash Bugs

Latin name: Anasa tristis 

Size: 5/8″ long

Color(s): Adults are brownish-gray

Life Cycle: Adults overwinter under debris or rocks. In the spring, they fly to a member of the Cucurbit family (squash, melons, cucumbers or pumpkins) where they mate. At that point, the females lay clusters of about 20 reddish-brown eggs (see photo below) on the undersides of the plants’ leaves, usually near the main stem. After 10 days, the eggs hatch. Nymphs (see photo to right) take 4-6 weeks to mature. There is generally a single generation per year but if conditions are right, there can occasionally be a smaller second generation.

Symptoms of their activity: Squash bugs are essentially sapsuckers in that they suck the juices from plant leaves. Signs will be yellow spots on the leaves and wilting due to the fact that the bugs disrupt the movement of both water and nutrients through the plants. It is important to note that squash bugs do not carry or spread diseases.

Typically seen on: Members of the Cucurbit family: summer and winter squash, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers.

Controls: 1) hand-picking; 2) squishing the eggs on the undersides of the leaves; 3) placing floating row cover over the seeds or plants as soon as you plant them and leaving the covers in place until the plants start flowering; 4) don’t plant all of your Cucurbit family crops in the same place in your garden because that makes it easier for the squash bugs to find them! Instead, plant a few in multiple areas of your garden. 5) practice crop rotation.

Natural predators: Tachinid flies.

Additional information: Squash Bugs/University of Minnesota Extension, and Squash Bugs/University of California Integrated Pest Management. Joe Gardener website. 

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