Anasa tristis
Pest description and crop damage The squash bug attacks squash, pumpkin, melons, and related crops. Adults are typically dark brown, but may have gray or light brown markings. They are about 0.75 inch long at maturity. Squash bug nymphs and adults feed on the leaves, causing small yellow specks which later turn brown. Squash bugs also inject a toxin into vines, which causes a wilt from the point of attack to the end of the vine. Affected runners wilt and turn black and crisp. Small plants may be killed, while larger plants may lose several runners. Squash bugs also may attack young fruit.
Biology and life history Adult squash bugs overwinter in debris and sheltered places in the garden. Brown to reddish eggs are laid along the veins of new leaves. The newly hatched nymphs (immature bugs) are greenish to gray.
Management-cultural control
Clean up debris in the fall to remove overwintering squash bugs. Hand-pick eggs, nymphs, and adults.
Management-chemical control: HOME USE
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin (as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- esfenvalerate
- permethrin
- pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- zeta-cypermethrin
Note: Pesticides can injure cucurbits. Be sure foliage is dry at the time of application.
Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE
- acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 5 applications or 0.5 lb ai/a per season.
- alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.0175 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/a per season.
- bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season. Do not make more than two applications after bloom. Do not make applications less than 7 days apart.
- clothianidin (Belay) at 0.05 to 0.067 lb ai/a soil, 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil.REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
- dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/a foliar or 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/a for soil. PHI 1 day foliar, 21 days for soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a foliar or 0.532 lb ai/a for soil per season.
- esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.25 lb ai/a per season.
- flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 0.09 to 0.16 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/a per season.
- gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.01 to 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.09 lb ai/a per season.
- novaluron (Rimon 0.83EC) at 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Do not exceed 0.234 lb ai/a per season.
- tebuconazole/lambda cyhalothrin (Crossover) at 0.14 to 0.16 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days, REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai/a tebuconazole or 0.18 lb lambda cyhalothrin per season.
- zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.035 to 0.05 lb ai/a . PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per year. Retreatment interval 7 days.