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