Scouting:
The action threshold for squash bug is when more than one egg mass is found per plant during the flowering stage. It is important to monitor plants and take appropriate actions once squash bugs have been found and control them early in the season to prevent large populations from developing.
Once cucurbit yellow vine decline has infected a plant, there is nothing that can prevent the plant from dying.
Cultural Control:
Mowing weeds and maintaining vegetation around field perimeters and destroying crop debris after harvest can help reduce overwintering sites for squash bugs. Vigorous vines can withstand squash bug attacks, so it is important to maintain healthy, actively growing cucurbit crops by irrigating and fertilizing them as needed.
Planting varieties resistant to squash bugs (Butternut, Royal Acorn, and Sweet Cheese) is also an option to help reduce squash bug damage.
Manual Control:
Home gardeners can remove squash bug eggs, adults, and nymphs manually and destroy them. Since squash bugs tend to congregate together, boards or shingles placed around the plants will promote squash bug aggregation and simplify collecting and destroying the bugs.
Biological Control:
The Tachnid fly, Trichopoda pennipes, attacks squash bugs and occurs naturally in the field. Although parasitism rates as high as 80 percent have been reported, the fly is still unable to control squash bug populations below economically damaging levels. The fly is not available commercially.
Chemical Control:
Since squash bug adults are secretive, control can be difficult. Treatment should be directed toward nymphs when possible, and thorough spray coverage should be attempted.
Soil applications (via drench, irrigation, or in-furrow spray) of systemic insecticides such as Admire or Platinum for control of cucumber beetle and aphids will help suppress squash bugs early in the season, but foliar applications may still be necessary.
All labeled pyrethroids such as esfenvalerate (Asana XL), permethrin (Ambush 2E, Pounce 3.2 EC), bifenthrin (Capture 2 EC), and fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4 EC) will effectively control squash bug nymphs.
These products are based on information for Virginia only available at the time of publication (Bratsh etal. 2005). Always check the label and the current production recommendations before making any pesticide applications.
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