Re: [gardeners] bugs on my squash
Allen and Judy Merten (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Thu, 01 Jul 1999 16:17:18 -0500
Squash bugs also carry one of the Mosaic virus', which becomes the bane of
squash growing here in the mid summer. I avoid the virus by planting early,
destroying the plants as soon as the symptoms appear, and replanting later
inorder to make a fall crop.
Allen
Bastrop Co.,
SE Central Tx.
margaret lauterbach wrote:
> At 10:05 PM 6/27/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >I found some bugs on my squash today that I have seen referred to
> >as stink bugs. I also found eggs on the underside of the leaves.
> >The eggs are goldish brownish in color and oval shaped, and small.
> >
> >Last year I lost all my cucurbits to bugs. What can I do to get rid
> >of these bugs?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Holly
>
> Holly, if you'll look up "squash bugs" I'll bet your bug looks more like
> that than a stinkbug. Stinkbugs are about 1/2 inch long, squash bugs are
> closer to one inch. I'd like to know of a sure-kill formula for squash bugs
> that wouldn't harm bees or other beneficials, but the only thing I can
> suggest is kill what you can when you can with thumb and forefinger. Watch
> the leaves -- and stems -- for red eggs, and crush them. Darned squash bugs
> will lay a trail of eggs up a stem. Use your thumbnail to get them. I don't
> mind tearing leaves to remove a patch of eggs, then squashing them against
> a fencepost. Sort of satisfying "pops." They mate back to back, and you
> can often do in two at once.
>
> Once those eggs hatch, the little grey nymphs can suck the life out of a
> squash plant in no time. It looks like it's starved for water, but they're
> the culprits. Good luck to you and me. Margaret L