How to Naturally Control Squash Bugs
Out of all of the things I have tried to grow over the year, yellow summer squash has to be my very favorite! It is easy to grow and take care of, and summer squash is one of my very favorite vegetables. You can do so many things with it, like bake, sauté, fry, or grill it. You can even cook a delicious squash casserole and more. We also love the green variety of squash, zucchini. It is more popular, and we like to make Zucchini Lasagna with our garden produce.
When I first began growing yellow squash and zucchini, I harvested just a few and then my plants started turning yellow and were dead before I knew what hit them. I assumed that I hadn't watered them enough – as it was a very hot summer and I was a gardening newbie. Well, I started reading up and wondered if squash bugs had taken over. I knew my dad and brother had talked about them, but I didn't see one in my garden, but then again, I never looked that closely.
Last year, I went all out and we made a big garden full of zucchini and yellow squash plants:
What I didn't realize at the time of planting was that my plants really were too close and it would be hard to harvest, but I did make the very most out of my space and we had TONS of squash and zucchini! However, before long, the plants started turning yellow again. Upon investigation, I found squash bugs all up in my plants and I was not happy. I was striving for an organic garden and didn't want to resort to chemicals, but something had to be done to save my plants.
I was advised to just find the squash bugs and squish them between my fingers. Um. Seriously? I was about four months pregnant and still feeling somewhat icky, I definitely didn't want to be killing nasty bugs between my fingers. But, I got some great gloves and set out in the garden. It actually became quite fun, believe it or not, to find those little nasty bugs and kill them. The kids even got into it when I got them (but really me) a cool bug vacuum toy. It didn't suck up the big, huge bugs, but it worked a few times for the little ones. My bro also advised that I look under leaves to find their eggs and squish them to kill them. This is what the eggs look like:
This year, I have cut down on the number of plants and am being proactive in killing the squash bugs before they take over the garden. Here is a list of a few great, natural ways to conrol the squash bugs in your garden, too:
- Closely inspect your squash, zucchini, melon, cucumbers, and other plants from the cucurbit family and kill any squash bugs you see. Also keep an eye out for squash bug nymphs, which are likely nearby eggs that they have just hatched out of.
- If you check for bugs during and right after watering, you will find that they climb to the top of your plants. This provides an easy way to capture and kill them.
- Check daily for eggs. I find that squash bugs love to lay their eggs on my tomato plants. Also, if you go out after dark, you can use a flashlight to easily spot the cluster of eggs under the leaves. Gently rub them back and forth with your fingers to kill them or remove the eggs and squish them with a spade or rock, burn them, or drop them in a bowl of water and soap (see #4.) Just make sure they die or else you'll see baby squash bugs very, very soon.
- Have a bowl of water with a little dish soap mixed in to throw eggs and squash bugs in. They will die without you having to squish them!
- Set out some bug trap boards. I haven't tried this, but if you have an infestation, it's sure to work.
- Get some 100% Neem Oil and a spray bottle or a lawn and garden sprayer. Mix with water, according to directions, and spray all over your plants. Hubby recently discovered neem oil for our grape vine aphids and have found that they will work for any bug that eats the fruits and veggies in your garden. The neem oil doesn't kill on contact, but is supposed to make them crazy and stop eating and mating, and thus, will kill them off. Neem oil can be applied any time of the day, up to the day of harvest and it doesn't kill those helpful bugs.
- Rake up any leaves or debris under the plants and throw them away because squash bugs love to hide.
- I have not tried this, but a lot of sources say that you can try a floating row cover to deter the bugs.
- I read a tip online last year that said after the growing season is over, leave one squash plant in the middle of your garden and wait a day and then go and kill all of the adult squash bugs because they will survive over the winter and lay their eggs in the summer if you don't. One man even said he sets his plant on fire, but you know, do that with caution if you want to! Either way, make sure you clean up the garden area afterwards so the bugs won't winter in your garden debris.
If you have any other tips for controlling squash bugs (or any other type of plant eating bug,) I'd love to hear about it in the comments! Good luck!
Check out these other gardening posts:
Angela Williamson says
June 13, 2014 at 6:53 pmGreat tips!! I've never grown squash, but now I know what to look for, and how to fix it. When I had my first garden in MN, I had grasshoppers raid it, and it wasn't pretty!! There were so many that when I went in to weed, hundreds of them would jump up into the air. :/
Amber says
June 16, 2014 at 2:08 pmThanks for sharing these tips! Very helpful!!
Amanda @ Erickson & Co. says
June 16, 2014 at 3:57 pmI've never seen a squash bug. I wonder if we have them where I live.
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 4:07 pmThey’re pretty gross! I hope they stay away from your garden. 🙂
Annie says
June 16, 2014 at 9:51 pmWe planted a ton of squash this year so pinning this in case we have an bug issues!
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 4:05 pmThanks! I hope you don’t have any bugs!
Quinn says
June 17, 2014 at 5:48 amI have a great tip for you Gina- works wonderfully especially if you're diligent during the egg laying cycle… Hope it works as well for you this year as it has for me 🙂 http://www.reformationacres.com/2012/07/how-to-kill-squash-bugs-squash-bug-eggs-and-nymphs.html
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 4:05 pmWhat a fantastic idea! I’ve got to try this! I was just out killing nymphs yesterday and the little boogers kept scurrying away! thank you!
Clancy Cash Harrison MS, RD, LDN says
June 17, 2014 at 7:05 amI am so happy I found this- we are having bug issues with our garden and need help. Thanks.
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 4:00 pmyou’re welcome…hope they help! Good luck!
Sarah @ Nature's Nurture says
June 18, 2014 at 10:46 pmWe're growing zucchini and squash for the first time this year, so this post is very timely! Thanks for the tips 🙂
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 3:57 pmyou’re welcome!
Daphne says
June 19, 2014 at 1:43 pmThank you for the tips. i had no problems with squash bugs last year, but this year they are out of control. I can't even get my little plants started because they destroy them. I've been squishing and mashing trying to save my second attempt at planting this season.
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 3:57 pmThey’re awful aren’t they? And they literally STINK! Hope you get your garden back!
Kelly Bisciotti says
June 19, 2014 at 5:34 pmI have issues with powdery mildew on my squash plants more than squash bugs. But I have found that a spray solution of 1:3 parts milk to water will keep both off!
These are great tips! Sharing!
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 3:56 pmno way….that’s awesome! I haven’t had powdery mildew but I’ll know what to do if it happens. Thank you!
Rachel Helberg says
March 7, 2016 at 10:00 amDoes it matter if it is whole milk, or 2%? We have 2% that we drink/use which is already deluted?
Gena says
March 7, 2016 at 2:06 pmI wish I could help, but I honestly don’t know. Good luck though!
Cindy says
June 19, 2014 at 10:03 pmDiatomaceous Earth (in food grade) is an excellent natural way to kill unwanted bugs of all types, including the squash bug. Last year (2013) was our first year to garden and had the problem pretty early on with the plants having holes in the leaves and turning yellow. After talking with an experienced friend, she told us to look for the squash bug (and the Big Worm on the tomato plants). Sure enough, there they were in plain sight. I have used D.E. for several years for many other applications (killing fleas, ticks, etc) and it did wonderful for the squash bugs and we ended up having a good crop of squash. One drawback is that it might possibly kill the 'Good' bugs too.
Gena says
June 22, 2014 at 3:55 pmThat’s good to know…thank you! I will check that out if my methods fail me. 🙂 Neem oil isn’t supposed to kill the good bugs, so that’s my first go to.
Barbara Sanders says
July 6, 2014 at 3:43 pmIf you wrap some tape around your hand and press on the squash bug eggs the tape will lift the eggs off the leaf with little to no damage to the leaf. As you said though diligence is the key.
Gena says
July 7, 2014 at 5:18 pmGreat idea!
Cassandra Conroy says
August 4, 2014 at 12:21 pmGena, great tips; the only thing I would caution about Neem is that I've read it is toxic to bees. So use early in morning before bees set to work (give time to dry) or after bees go home in the evening. We have a widespread problem with honeybee populations so we need to do what we can to protect them. Neem is the only thing I'll use if at all but still with caution. If anybody reading this wants to learn about the bee situation please read up on it, a good documentary also is " Queen of the Sun". We have grown organic heirloom garden for several years. Planting to attract beneficial insects, not using any chemicals like weed-killers (round up -poison) pesticides or fungicides is vital! With diligence and patience all the good things thrive and The Creators physics work to keep all in balance. Good soil, compost , water also key to promoting health to the plants and all critters:)
another tip I read is to place newspapers around the plants. Squash bugs like to go there overnight. In morning, just step on the papers or lift and squish 🙂 thanks for neat blog!
Gena says
August 6, 2014 at 11:09 amThis is great info, thank you for sharing! We need to protect our bees, for sure!
Kimberley says
June 21, 2015 at 2:17 pmThanks Gena for the awesome tips. I have a plot in a community garden and we can only use natural techniques for bugs. I usually have a few stink bugs every year. Last year was the worst however they didn't effect my crop. Kind of weird how nature works. I'm glad I read the comment about the neem oil. I bought some but was afraid to use it since I wasn't sure if it would leach into my crop. I also wanted to comment that if anyone wants to attract bees plant French lavender and Greek oregano. I let the oregano grow wild and flower just for the bees. The only problem with the Greek Oregano is I believe it's a little invasive all I do is dig out what I don't want with a shovel at the end of the summer/ fall. It comes back every year and repeats the cycle of happy bees. Thanks again for your blog.
Kimberley in California
Gena says
June 21, 2015 at 8:55 pmThanks for your comment and helpful tips! I never knew that bees liked oregano! That’s pretty awesome, thanks for sharing.
Rachel Helberg says
March 7, 2016 at 9:57 amWe are a small chemical free farm in NE Colorado. We have used this method for years on both summer & winter squash (always have bad bugs to get rid of – LOL)…we place a board about 1" thick by 4"-6" wide next to our plants. It heats up during the day – at night all the bugs crawl under it to stay warm (they hate the cold)…then i just go out early the next morning with my handy battery operated mini vaccum and suck the bad buggers up (can catch other baddies this way too as lots crawl under there at night!). Its better than squishing in my fingers (yuck), but just as fun. Then we dump them into the burn barrel and light them up – woo hoo! Never tried Neem Oil – and wont use Diatomaceous Earth (food grade) because we have honey bees and tons of great beneficial bugs that would be hurt or die from it. (love my Praying Mantis and Lady bugs!) May try the milk idea this year – never heard that one before – thanx for the great helpful article!
Gena says
March 7, 2016 at 2:06 pmThanks for your tip! I have actually noticed that they crawl to the boards that surround our garden. I need to find them in the AM!
Bill says
March 21, 2016 at 3:38 pmI have tried the boards for Squuash Bugss it works,I used ramdom pieces of wood plywood decking boards, and put them next to the plants, and you will need to turn them over in the morning and kill the bugs.. I had one of the old farmers tell me to till my garden in both directions in winter and just before I make my rows in spring, I'm in let you know on this one. Bill;
Gena says
March 22, 2016 at 8:50 amThanks for the tips! Good luck with your garden this year.
McKenzie says
April 20, 2017 at 1:17 pmThank you for sharing on how to get rid of squash bugs! It sounds like it is time consuming, but I am glad it works for you!
Cindy says
July 9, 2017 at 4:29 pmThe best and easiest way to get rid of the squash beetle eggs is with duct tape. Take a strip of duct tape and apply it to the leaf where the eggs are. Smooth it down and then peel it off the leaf. The eggs will go with the tape and you will have them all. You can even do it with barely hatched beetles. The tape will grab and hold them.
Gena says
July 9, 2017 at 6:53 pmgood to know…thank you!
Jan says
July 17, 2018 at 10:58 amThank you so much for your tips. I had a dozen zucchini plants and slowly the squash bugs are killing them off and are now working on my pumpkins. I have been using the chemical Sevin. I don’t like using it but I didn’t know of anything else. Where can I purchase Neem Oil? These pests can lay eggs faster than I can powder them. I’m trying to keep my pumpkin plants alive long enough for pumpkins to mature. Thanks again for your tips.
Gena says
August 9, 2018 at 9:30 pmI apologize, I was on vacation when your message came. You can buy Neem oil online or you can check at a nursery. My husband found it at a local nursery. Hope that your pumpkins are thriving!