grey plants A dark grey cat with darker grey stripes and a lighter grey underbelly

Remove plant debris during the growing season to reduce sites where squash bugs can hide.

Squash bugs will group under the boards at night you can then collect and destroy them in the morning. Trap squash bugs by laying out boards or pieces of newspaper.Crush eggs that are attached to the undersides and stems of leaves.Removal of squash bugs can be challenging because squash bugs hide under leaves and move quickly when disturbed.This is practical only if a few plants are affected. Remove and kill nymphs and adults by dropping them into a pail of soapy water.Early detection of nymphs is important, as adult squash bugs are difficult to kill.Maintain healthy, sturdy plants through proper fertilization and watering to help limit squash bug damage. How to protect your plants from squash bugs Keep your plants healthy The nymphs die when temperatures drop to freezing. The adults fly or crawl to sheltered places for the winter. In the fall, especially after the vines have died, the adults and nymphs group together on squash fruits. The life stages overlap and all of them can be seen at any given time during the growing season. One generation develops each year, although it is possible that in some summers there is a partial second generation. Both adults and nymphs hide under leaves when disturbed. The females usually start appearing in gardens in early June and continue to lay eggs through mid-summer.Įggs hatch in about 10 days, and nymphs mature in about four to six weeks. When adults come out in the spring, they fly to growing cucurbit plants to feed and mate.įemale squash bugs lay small clusters of eggs (about 20) on the undersides of the leaves, especially between the veins where they form a V. Squash bugs can live through the winter as adults in sheltered places, such as under plant debris, around buildings, or under rocks.

Grey plants A dark grey cat with darker grey stripes and a lighter grey underbelly