Squash bugs— caught!

The eggs were so interesting. Almost pretty. I found several patches on my vigorously growing squash leaves. Little brown eggs all laid in nice rows and patches. I brought some inside for us to marvel at under the binocular microscope (easily the best gift my Dad ever got my family— well, except the big telescope).

Eggs on squash leaf

I placed one leaf into an old wine bottle and retired the rest to the compost pile on the off chance they were not beneficial bugs.

bugs in a bottle

Then we waited about a week before they hatched. The girls and I were very excited and interested to learn what these little guys with the pretty green abdomens were.

Hatched bugs

 

Good thing these had been removed from my squash patch because, according to one well illustrated ag. extension site, they are the dreaded squash bug nymphs I’d hoped would not return to my garden again this year.

Squash bug nymphs in a bottle

 

 I’ve been going out every-other morning to remove more batches of eggs.  The bad news is there appears to be little that can be done at this stage to keep the boring adults from getting into the patch and delivering the same wilt disease we had last year. Last year we still had several good zucchinis, in spite of the wilt, but this year, we have melon growing right beside the zucchini squash. I am concerned the beetles might bore into them as well. We’ll keep an eye out.