Squash Bug
Easy DIY
Identification
Flat, brown-gray true bugs that feed on squash and pumpkin vines, causing wilting, and lay distinctive clusters of bronze eggs on the underside of leaves.
Can I DIY this?
Easy DIYYou can handle this one yourself.
With the right product and a little patience, most homeowners take care of this pest on their own. Follow the treatment guide, read the product label, and you're set.
- Check the undersides of squash and pumpkin leaves for clusters of bronze eggs — catching these before they hatch is the most effective control point.
- Scrape off and destroy egg clusters by hand where practical.
- Hand-pick adults and nymphs in the early morning when they're slower moving, and drop them in soapy water.
- For heavier infestations, apply insecticidal soap directly to nymphs, since adults are more resistant to contact treatments.
- Remove garden debris at the end of the season, since adults overwinter in it and re-infest the following year.
Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, closed-toe shoes with socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and goggles. Add a respirator if the label calls for it or ventilation is poor.