How to get rid of squash stink bugs from the garden

In this video, I will show you the most effective method I have found of getting rid of these stink bugs in the garden. Revenge can be so sweet.

The squash vine borer is a key pest of winter squash, gourds and pumpkins. Unfortunately, it is usually noticed only after it has done its damage. Symptoms appear in mid summer when a long runner or an entire plant wilts suddenly. Infested vines usually die beyond the point of attack.

Sawdust like frass near the base of the plant is the best evidence of squash vine borer activity. Careful examination will uncover yellow brown excrement pushed out through holes in the side of the stem at the point of wilting. If the stem is split open, one to several borers are usually present. The caterpillars reach a length of 1 inch and have a brown head and a cream colored body. Winter squash, particularly 'Hubbard', are most susceptible to damage while 'Butternut' is somewhat resistant.

The adult squash vine borer is a stout dark gray moth with 'hairy' red hind legs, opaque front wings, and clear hind wings with dark veins. Unlike most moths, they fly about the plants during the daytime, appearing more like a paper wasp than a moth.

This insect overwinters as a full grown larva or a pupa one to two inches below the soil surface. If it has not already done so, the larva pupates in the spring. Adult moths begin to emerge about the time the plants begin to run, and moth flight continues through mid August.


The small brown eggs, laid individually on leaf stalks and vines, hatch in seven to 10 days. The newly hatched larva immediately bores into the stem. A larva feeds for 14 to 30 days before exiting the stem to pupate in the soil. There are 1 to 2 generations per year

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[theeastwatch]

lol. nice vid.

I wonder when you have THAT many bugs on the plant if you can use a vacuum?

Also, have you ever tried wood ash?

-TEW

[scutter4christ]

@theeastwatch haven't tried the wood ash but I did read on a forum where a guy hooked up his shop vac every day and sucked em up.

[christineshires]

eeewww! those little buggers! Hey scutter, have you ever tried a product called Seven Dust? We use this in our garden. Also, it is also effective for fleas on animals. take your cat or dog, and sprinkle the dust all over them. outside of course, and in 24 hours--- flea free. God bless.

[scutter4christ]

@christineshires Yeah, I originally used Seven when I first saw the bugs. They ate it for breakfast and then asked for seconds! :o)

[PWArchery]

I had a bad infestation like that. I was able to save some of my plants by (1) spraying with Neem Oil soap, vaccuming them, and squishing the eggs. I make the shade traps also and squich those.

Next year I'll use DE, the shade traps, beneficial neematodes, and the soap water. I may try to make a different trap.

[Alina674]

@housebanks22 I think he's talking about burning the plant after the season is over (or if they sort of took over your plants & you'd like to start over with new plants) as a way of getting rid of the bugs & more importantly their eggs, to eliminate as much problems as he can for the next planting season.

[housebanks22]

why would u kill off the whole plant? doesnt make sense to me...

[heruursciences]

That is how i felt when they ate my zucchini for breakfast, my winter squash for lunch and my pumpkins and gourds for dinner. I tried many things to get rid of them but nothing really worked. I felt like making a vid of one being slowly burned to death by my blue laser. My best guess is early detection and removal and a nice dose of pesticide early.

[easytarbar]

Plain old soap and water dish soap and a sprayer fairly heavy mixture that will take care of them

[IceBergTYS]

Sounds like a simple enough solution!

[checkfoldcallraise]

it sucks that you had to get rid of the plants though. i hope i dont get those bugs. i have a young butternut squash plant that is beginning to grow big and spread out. my brussel sprout plants are being engulfed in aphids though. hopefully the sevin dust works on them but its slow at killing them.

[likaner1]

thanks this way saves money! i tried gasing them but whenever i keep buying new filters for my gas mask i just run out of cash

[jerwanman]

That was a time waster 4 SURE