AAHHH! What are these bugs killing my squash?

Question

I just went out to pick squash from my garden and found one of my plants dead, with yellow leaves and disgusting, rotting squash and stem. They look a little like stink bugs, but curvier and bluish silver, the biggest ones only maybe 3/4 in.

I picked squash YESTERDAY and since then the plant has died.

What are these evil little things, and what can I do (preferably organically) to keep them from killing the rest of my garden?!

Answer 1

Here's all I know, and I have done organic gardening for years... I gave this answer to another question as well...

Organically I would suggest to make a mix in a blender then siphon it, place it into a spray bottle, spray it onto your plants, here is the mix:

4 cups red hot peppers

4 cups water

Another organic method is kinda gross but it's good enough to get into the organic encyclopedia of gardening I read a lot:

A mixture (blended and filtered) of the bugs and water, spray them on the plants.

What worked for me was a sprinkling of fireplace ashes every time after I watered the squash. I did it each time and each plant lived. Now they are really big and the bugs are not any trouble at all. (to keep it organic I always used fresh organically grown oak to burn and those wood ashes are pure from a fireplace which is not used for the chemically treated woods sold in stores)

I had tried a blend of garlic and water and it did nothing.

I also tried a "bait crop" and they got eaten too quickly, but it almost worked to detract the bugs to a different location on the plot. I planted seeds 1 inch apart along the distant edge of the plot where I was not going to grow squash. They went there and my intended squash had a chance to survive. Soon the bugs just figured it out and attacked the flowers.

I have also tried planting marigolds between each squash plant, they were pretty and now they are very happily growing but the bugs are still there. I may have had the wrong flower, or they may be immune to the marigolds.

Source(s):

The encyclopedia for organic gardening

Answer 2

I am not sure what the bugs are, but I have heard that the best way to prevent bugs from killing squash is to plant corn and squash in rows next to eachother.  Something about the corn keeps the bugs away from the squash and vice versa.  My dad is a gardner and uses this technique and has never had a problem.

Answer 3

Junebugs maybe?  http://www.dirtdoctor.com/pics/content_i...

Answer 4

lol, bugs love squash. buy some anti-bug spray, it'l work well.

Answer 5

My Daddy always has a garden and keeps 7 Dust on hand at all times.  You can find it at your local department store (Wal-Mart) or a local gardening store.  As far as what the bugs are, potato bugs, lady bugs...who knows, really?  There are also caterpillars that find squash and garden plants tastey meals.  I wouldn't worry so much about what it is...I'd just want to know how to get rid of em!  lol  I know it can be very aggravating.

I've listed some sources that may help you with organic killers if you're not interested in using the 7 Dust.  I will tell you that it's easy to apply and easy to wash off...in fact, you'll have to redust after a rain.  But it is a very affordable and effective insect repellant/killer.

Good luck with your garden, Hon, and God bless you!

Answer 6

Did they look like this?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/1750...

If so, they were pumpkin bugs. They can get on squash too, as they are related. If I were you, I'd put some good repellent in my garden.

Answer 7

soap and water will help just spray it on there

Answer 8

fruit flies, or flies

Answer 9

They are squash beetles, and I have done battle with them before, when growing pumpkins in our back yard.

You can try a product called Rotenone-Pyrethrins, if you want to keep it "organic", but it the harshest of organic, non-malathion, or diazicyde, type chemicals.

Once they get their little snouts into your squash, it's going to be hard to prevent the rest on the vine from rotting, not withstanding vine borer beetles too.

Good luck and don't give up!

Pyrethrins, pyrethrum, and neem oil are all chemical free means to combat evil bugs. Check out the site below for more chemical free options.

Answer 10

browse through wekipedia , you may get your answer

Answer 11

I would sprinkle 7 Dust on them.  This can be found in most gardening sections of retail stores.  It is a red bag (or at least was last year).  This kept bugs off of everything.

Answer 12

stinkbugs come in many varieties, they are stinkbugs

Answer 13

Were they leafhoppers?  They come in lots of colors and generally eat plant sap, I believe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leafhopper

And then there are also squash bugs:

http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/cucs/...