pest_control
Squash Bugs on Acorn Squash
How to identify and get rid of squash bugs on Acorn Squash. Size: 15–20mm.
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Identifying squash bugs on Acorn Squash
Flat-backed, grey-brown bug with a shield-shaped body, found in clusters on squash, pumpkin, and courgette leaves and stems.
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Life cycle
One to two generations per year; adults overwinter in garden debris, emerging in spring to lay bronze egg clusters on leaf undersides.
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Damage to Acorn Squash
Feeding punctures leaves and vines, causing wilting, yellow speckling, and blackened patches that can kill entire runners.
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How to treat squash bugs on Acorn Squash
Hand-pick adults and crush egg clusters found on leaf undersides. Use row covers early, removed at flowering for pollination.
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Preventing squash bugs on Acorn Squash
Clear garden debris in autumn to remove overwintering adults and rotate cucurbit plantings.