Master Gardeners Confirm Squash Bugs are Active!
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Master Gardeners Confirm Squash Bugs are Active!
Landscape & Garden Treasure Valley, Treasure Valley - Idaho
Squash Bug (Anasa tristis)
Posted on: June 20, 2023 by Brad Stokes
2023 Squash Bug – June 20, 2023
Squash Bug (Anasa tristis)
Squash bugs have been reported in Canyon County by an Idaho Master Gardener. It is time to check the underside of cucurbit (pumpkins and squash are the most attractive) leaves for the bronze-colored egg clusters. In addition, monitor plants for nymphs, adults and plants wilting due to feeding injury.
MANAGEMENT
Wooden boards, shingles, or heavy cardboard can be placed on the ground next to the host plant. Squash bugs tend to move under the board/object at night. In the morning, turn the object over and destroy the pest.
Hand-pick and destroy adults, nymphs or egg clusters. Other options include rolled duct tape around fingers to pull off egg clusters, cutting off the egg part of the leaf or applying petroleum jelly directly to the eggs. Increased success is achieved when started early in the season and done every 2 to 3 days to keep numbers low.
Cultural methods include sanitation, plating squash varieties that are more tolerant of squash bug feeding, crop rotation and time of planting.
Additional control methods can be found in the linked publications:
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/vegetable-pests/common-vegetable/vegetable-crop-squash-bug
https://extension.usu.edu/pests/ipm/notes_ag/veg-squashbug
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74144.html
