Insecticides should be applied early in the season to manage nymphs because the adults are more resilient and difficult to kill. For heavier infestations or if more plants are affected, insecticide treatments are recommended. Physical removal of squash bugs may be effective if only a few plants are infested. As the season progresses, continue to watch for nymphs and check cucurbits for wilting or discolored leaves, as these are signs of a possible infestation. It is impossible to eliminate all of the eggs this way, but it is a good preliminary strike that helps reduce populations later in the year. When plants are young, check the stems and leaves for egg clusters and crush any that are observed. The key to managing a potential squash bug infestation is early detection. Simple fertilizing and watering of cucurbits is also advantageous, as it will make the plants more tolerant to feeding injury. Squash bugs tend to colonize the first suitable host in the environment, and a trap crop can serve as a lure that can then be treated and destroyed to greatly reduce squash bug populations. If you have infestations every year, consider using an early trap crop such as blue hubbard squash. Row cover physically prevents the squash bugs from colonizing the plants, but it can be challenging to use in South Dakota because of wind. Floating row cover can be used over seedlings up until the first female flower is present. However, rotations will not completely keep squash bugs from showing up because of their ability to fly in from other sites. Practicing crop rotation can greatly reduce their numbers as well. Avoid using mulches and clean up any debris around plants to eliminate shelter for squash bugs.
There are several tactics to prevent a squash bug infestation. Squash bug nymphs congregating on a pumpkin plant. When disturbed, they will produce a foul scent and scurry away quickly. Squash bugs are commonly found in groups on the leaves, stems, and fruit of cucurbits (Figure 4). The injury caused by extensive feeding can result in wilting or death of infested plants. Nymphs and adults both feed by sucking the plant juices from the leaves and stems. There may be one or two generations per year depending on the length of the growing season. The adults continue to feed until the first frost when they seek shelter to overwinter. Over the next 4 to 6 weeks, the nymphs complete their development and mature into adults. Squash bug nymphs hatch in about 2 weeks and immediately begin feeding.
The females lay eggs in clusters on the stems and undersides of the leaves between the leaf veins. Squash bugs first appear in early summer when overwintering adults emerge to feed, mate, and lay eggs on growing cucurbits. Squash bug eggs on the underside of a leaf.
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