One such insect is the Tachinid Fly, or Trichopoda pennipes. Certain insects are very beneficial to have on your side when you are fighting pests. The problem with most insecticides- even those labeled “organic”- is that they don’t differentiate between the good and the bad. Related: 16 Ways to Use Companion Planting to Control Plants Naturally Other plants such as oregano, marigold, calendula and dill can also provide some protection and deter squash bugs in your garden. Plant them throughout your squash beds for the best results. You can read more about companion planting with squash on my article The Best Squash Companion Plants. Two of the most common plants that repel squash bugs are nasturtiums and white icicle radishes. You can also help control squash bugs by planting repellent plants with your squashes. After all, goal with out a plan is just a dream! Make your homestead dreams come true! The Homestead Goal Planner will help you prioritize your life and your homestead goals and keep you on track with good planning practices. And in order to have squash you must open your rows to allow for pollination. You can use row covers in the early spring too, but since a lot of the beetles will overwinter in the soil, it may not catch too many. Or try using your shopvac to vacuum them off the plant! This is a daily job and if you get lazy about picking- chances are your squash plants will fall!Īlternatives to hand picking that can also work are spraying your plants with a water hose- some people have said using the hot water from the hose in the late afternoon can hurt the squash beetles. You can simply squish them, brush them off into your soapy water or use very sticky tape to pick them off. Try to do this with the least amount of damage to the leaves. You will also want to scratch off and destroy these eggs. You will find rows of gold-colored eggs on the undersides of the leaves. I keep a jug of soapy water in the garden specifically for this purpose.īug picking is best done in the morning or evening- simply go through your plants and pick off any adult bugs to find and drop them into the soapy water.Īdult squash bugs are usually found on the underside of the leaves, especially the lower leaves that are touching the ground.They will also be found around the base of the plant. The most reliable way to get kill squash bugs is to do it yourself. This is, and always will be, the best method of defense when it comes to getting rid of squash bugs. Get Rid of Squash Bugs in Your Garden- For Good! These nymphs are usually responsible for doing the most damage to your plants. These are usually located on the underside of the leaves, though sometimes are laid on the tops or stems.įinally, once the squash bug eggs have hatched you will see lots and lots of tiny, soft-bodied, gray squash bug nymphs. It’s not uncommon to find 2 mating bugs since they will soon be laying eggs.Īs the season progresses you will see more adults and neat rows of golden-brown eggs on the leaves of your plants. If it’s early in the growing season you will see adult squash bugs on the stems, leaves, and on the soil around the plants. In the morning or evening, take a look at the base of your squash plants and on the underside of the leaves. If you combine the following 6 tips, you can effectively get rid of squash bugs and prevent them from taking over your garden this summer! When the nymphs hatch they can take down your squash vine in a matter of hours.īut fortunately all isn’t lost. They will mate and lay their eggs on the underside of the host plants leaves. The adult bugs will overwinter in the soil, hatching in the spring. Squash bugs will attack almost all varieties of summer and winter squash, though they do prefer some types of squash and pumpkins over others. They are shield bugs that are about 1 inch long with a hard shell and soft body underneath. They look almost identical to those things you’ve been calling stink bugs your entire life just a little more narrow in size (ie. So how do you get rid of squash bugs naturally in your garden?įirst let’s talk about what a squash bug is. Chickens and guineas, at least mine, don’t really care for squash bugs either. Please see my disclosure page for more information about cookies collected and our privacy policy.Ĭrop rotation is helpful, but only if you have a lot of room to rotate about. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission.
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