I think I have squash/zuc bugs?!?? what to do?

Beebee09

I have 3 zucchini plants this year and since they grow uncontrollably I have been trimming down some leaves below where the zucchinis are growing.  It's been going really well but I just noticed one of the plants looks like it is being eaten at the base and I saw bugs that look similar to stink bugs but bigger.  What do I do?  I think they already destroyed this plant because now it's looking completely dead and lifeless.  I want to avoid them from getting my other two plants which are somewhat close by!

I'd love any advice or help! 

Purple Corn

easiest but gross is just collecting them and drowning them. Look for nymphs they are more gray than the big squash bugs. Also look for eggs (they are small red dots clustered together on the leaves).

Basically you should wait 2 years before planting again.

renee

One thing I have read you can do is to take a pin (like a bigger and longer staple) and pin the stem down to the ground in a few spots. The stem will begin to grown roots and that way, when you have bugs eating in one spot, the other roots can sustain the plant.

That happened to me a year ago and it is such a PITA!

Beebee09

Purple Corn:

easiest but gross is just collecting them and drowning them. Look for nymphs they are more gray than the big squash bugs. Also look for eggs (they are small red dots clustered together on the leaves).

Basically you should wait 2 years before planting again.

Why are you suggested to wait 2 yrs? 

Beebee09

renee:

One thing I have read you can do is to take a pin (like a bigger and longer staple) and pin the stem down to the ground in a few spots. The stem will begin to grown roots and that way, when you have bugs eating in one spot, the other roots can sustain the plant.

That happened to me a year ago and it is such a PITA!

This is a good idea.  What type of pin did you use? 

renee

Well, I did not get a chance to try it, since I had only 2 squash plants and they both got killed by the bugs before I got a chance to act. But.....at the hardware store, I have seen these big pins (like a staple on steroids) that you can use to pin down landscape fabric. Those would work...or else perhaps you could MacGyver it and form a paper clip into a large u-shape....wet the ground and push it in.

HTH!

kastle

Beebee09:

Purple Corn:

easiest but gross is just collecting them and drowning them. Look for nymphs they are more gray than the big squash bugs. Also look for eggs (they are small red dots clustered together on the leaves).

Basically you should wait 2 years before planting again.

Why are you suggested to wait 2 yrs? 

b/c by not providing food for the insects over several years they will leave your area.  at least that's the theory of crop rotation.

MRS.KLP

I read on some website to use a bbq lighter on the bugs and remove the eggs from the under side of the leaves. I noticed a bunch of eggs on the stalks of the leaves, too. I spent some time today working in the garden. Removed a bunch of eggs and stalked them like shown in an earlier post. I also killed the handful of squash bugs I saw. I will keep checking for eggs this week...