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Original Message Squash bug
While most books describe the Squash bug
as dark brown to black the pictures I've
seen could indicate a grey beetle type
insect. These guys (and gals) prefer
pumpkins but will go after other
cucurbits as well and the adults
overwinter in the garden laying eggs
that hatch in 1 to 2 weeks in late
spring. The youngest nymphs are a pale
green turning to a grey powdery color as
they mature. You can find the shiny
yellow eggs on the bottom side of the
plant leaves in groups and as the time
of hatch approaches the eggs turn a dark
red. Floating row covers offer some
protection, as long as there are no
adults left under the covers, but since
there have been found some of these
buggers that have developed resistance
to carbaryl it probably is no longer
effective. Keep any adult beetles
picked. Radishes, nasturtiums, and
marigolds have been shown to be
repellant to these buggers so a few
planted in among the pumpkins can also
help.

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