Getting Rid of Squash Bugs Organically

Squash bugs (Anasa tristis) are the scourge of home vegetable growers, and one solution for avoiding damaged plants is in getting rid of squash bugs organically. Squash bugs can wipe out any cucurbit vegetables in your garden fast, but there's hope if you do some pre-planning.

Maxing out at a little over a half inch long and a quarter of an inch wide, squash bugs are light or dark gray. They have a stripe along the edges of their mid-section that can rage from bright orange to brown. They deposit one to two dozen yellowish orange eggs on the undersides of squash leaves, usually along the leaf veins. As they mature, the eggs will darken to a rich bronze color. These rapacious bugs can produce up to two generations in a season in some areas.

Squash bugs are a serious problem in the Western Hemisphere and can be found from coast to coast in the U.S. They suck the vital juices from plants and can inject a toxin that causes otherwise healthy plants to wilt, discolor and die. Usually younger plants are more susceptible than more established specimens.

• Keep an eye out. One of the most effective methods for controlling pests in your garden is to inspect your plants often. You can frequently eliminate eggs and remove adult pests by hand if you're diligent. This is a great organic solution that can become part of your daily routine. It will work equally well on squash bugs, Japanese beetles, tomato horn worms and bag worms, among others. For squash bugs, you can spot and destroy the eggs, nymphs (which cling to the leaves after hatching), and adults as well.
• Don't plant crops that attract squash bugs. Since squash bugs show a preference for Hubbard squash and many types of pumpkin, as opposed to melons and cucumbers, stay away from plantings that will present an attractive buffet for squash bugs. They are less likely to feed on royal acorn squash and butternut varieties too.
• Keep your vegetable patch clean and clear. Clean your vegetable garden area every season, preparing it carefully for winter. Squash bugs can overwinter in wood mulch and wood boards, so eliminating potential habitat can help rid your landscape of next year's pests. Removing or turning under dead squash vegetation will also help.
• Rotate your crops. From season to season, change the location of vegetable varieties to control recurring pest infestations. This is a good practice for replenishing your soil too.
• Install row covers. You can purchase floating row covers to protect your plants by placing them under a squash-bug proof barrier. Row covers work best when plants are young because that's the time when they're most vulnerable and easy to keep covered effectively.
• Plant companion crops. Squash bugs show an aversion to certain plants. Planting these repellent plants among your pumpkins and other vulnerable squash crops will help to keep squash bugs away. This doesn't always work by itself, but combined with one or two other measures, it will make your garden much less attractive to these pests. Try companion planting with:
  • Marigolds
  • Mint
  • Catnip
  • Radishes
  • Tansy
  • Nasturtium

When getting rid of squash bugs organically, preparation is the key to success. By using a few of the methods above in your spring garden planning, you can grow and enjoy your summer squash in peace.

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