Controlling Squash Bug Infestations in Your Garden
Squash bugs are a common garden pest, and they can wreak havoc on squash plants. Fortunately, there are many options available to keep these insects at bay and protect your crops. Below are a few strategies that you can take advantage of in order to gain the upper-hand when it comes to reducing or eliminating infestations.
Manual Removal
The most effective, but time-consuming way to eliminate squash bugs is to manually remove them from your plants. Take a bucket or spray bottle of soapy water and gently coat the plants. This will temporarily stop the bugs from moving, or significantly slow them down so you can pick them off. They are generally found on the underside of leaves, near the bottom of the stalk and in mulch or other debris that is laying around the base of your crops. Simply pick off the bugs one by one and dump them in the bucket of soapy water.
The eggs will be attached to the leaves or stems, and they are orangish-yellow in color. You can gently scrape them off of the leaves or squish and then wipe the remnants off. In either case, you will need to spend some time on a regular basis to keep these bugs from getting established in your garden.
Diatomaceous Earth
Sprinkling a bag of diatomaceous earth around your plants will create an inhospitable environment for a wide-range of pests, including squash bugs. This material contains small, jagged particles that cut through the skeleton of insects while also destroying their digestive and respiratory system when ingested. This is a fantastic, all-natural and safe pest-control solution that everyone who has a garden should consider using.
Planting Repellents
There are a few plants that squash bugs avoid like the plague, and this is a safe, natural way to reduce the chances of having infestations. Simply plant these species next to your squashes, and chances are that you will start seeing fewer and fewer squash bugs around. While you may still need to remove the few that remain, repellent plants can go a long way to make the job easier.
Another advantage to using repellent plants is that they don’t contain poison or kill off entire insect populations like some other treatments. Remember that there are good insects that help gardens to grow, and sometimes it’s better to keep those alive and target the invasive species that you are trying to destroy. Two plants that are particularly effective are icicle radishes and nasturtiums.
Attract a Fly
The tachinid fly is a natural enemy of squash bugs. They burrow into their bodies and lay eggs. As the eggs hatch, the larvae will feed on the squash bugs as they grow. Best of all, they don’t attack your crops, and you can attract them by planting a couple of popular species. Add some calendula or dill weed near your squash and you may start to see more helpful flies and fewer harmful squash bugs.
Another consideration is that squash bugs love mulch, and will use the cover they provide in order to nest and reproduce. Keeping mulch away from squash can significantly reduce the problem. Another trick that may work for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time in their garden is to plant excess amounts of squash. Plant them together in bunches and you will end up with more squash simply because the bugs can’t devour the entire crop. While this may seem wasteful, it is an option for some people to consider.
Remember that you don’t always need to spray pesticides, and doing so too frequently can introduce toxins into your food supply. Try these and other remedies as a way to keep squash bugs under control, and chances are that your harvest will be more abundant and nutritious.
