As summer draws close, the new generation hunkers in safe places in preparation for winter. Squash bugs have a single generation each year. After the 5 th instar, the nymph gets into the resting stage which is after it has completed its growth into an adult. The nymphs require 4 to 6 weeks to get through the 5 larval instars before developing into an adult.Р”В®ach nymph stage appears more like an adult and does not have the pupal stage. The eggs hatch in approximately 1 to 2 weeks. In about 10 days, the adults feed, mate and finally oviposition. Each cluster is found to yield about 12 larvae or more. These clusters usually occur in rows that are fairly uniform between the forks of the veins on the lower side of the leaves. Oviposition of the eggs occurs in clusters of 4 eggs to 40 eggs. After oviposition, the eggs are found to be quite light in color and they become darker as time passes by. Squash bug eggs have an oval shape and they are yellow-brown in color. The adults keep on ovipositing eggs even beyond a month and this makes nymphs and adults present in the field all through summer. The bugs however do not get into the host field up to the time the vines start to РІР‚ВrunРІР‚в„ў. Around mid-June in Pennsylvania, adult squash bugs emerge. They can also hide in shrubs, rocks, and branches. Pictures of squash bugsР”Р„n adult squash bug overwinters in protected areas such as in garden debris. The major difference is that the nymph will have wing buds as opposed to complete wings. The nymph in its 5 th instar has a very similar appearance to the adult squash bug. The nymphs have a red head, thorax, antennae, and legs. In most cases, the adult squash bugs are found beneath leaves that are already damaged and next to plant crowns. They lay their egg masses on those plants on the lower side of their leaves. As soon as vines start forming, the bugs fly to the plants in your garden to start mating. Squash bugs can be found on dead leaves, under boards, on vines and sometimes in buildings. They move in groups and are mostly spotted walking on the lower sides of the leaves. The young squash bugs are also easy to identify since they have black legs. It is the nymphs (young squash bugs) which have a gray body. The overlapping nature of the wings makes an X on the back of insect.Р”Р„lthough these bugs can fly, they prefer walking around on plants. The back of squash bugs is flat with the edges and lower sides of the abdomen having orange stripes.

These bugs have a brown body or sometimes, a gray body. Squash bugs are quite large since they measure over Р’Р… an inch in length. However, it is covered by tiny hairs which act as protection of the bugs as they move around the parts of a plant. The body of squash bugs appears to be armor plated. To distinguish squash bugs from any other bugs, you need to clearly understand how these bugs look like so that you can easily identify them. This will be discussed later in the article.

In most cases, squash bugs are confused with stink bugs because of the similarity in their appearance. The damage of squash bugs is majorly limited to cucurbit family. For that reason, squash bugs are described as a serious squash and pumpkin pests, and a lesser pest of cucumbers and melons. These bugs have their origin in Central America. Squash bugs are bugs found on squash plants. Squash bug vs stink bug Squash Bugs -Pictures &Life Cycle

Squish bugs