Squash bugs are a common pest in vegetable gardens, where they can be found on squash, pumpkin, and melon. They can cause leaves to become speckled and turn yellow. Heavy feeding can cause plants to wilt or die, and fruit to rot.
These pests remain in the garden during the winter, hiding under dead leaves, wood, and other garden debris. In the spring and summer, they fly to their host plants to lay reddish-brown eggs in groups of 15 to 40 on the undersides of leaves and stems. So, now's the time to check your plants for squash bug eggs! Pick off and destroy egg masses to reduce squash bug numbers later in the season.
For more tips to reduce squash bug damage, see the newly revised fact sheet Pest Notes: Squash Bugs. The authors, UCCE advisor Jhalendra Rijal and Master Gardener Coordinator Anne Schellman, have added information about the effective time periods for monitoring squash bugs, a listing of the squash bug's natural enemies you might find in your garden, and an updated chemical control section.