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CT

Hi Everyone -- We were hoping someone could shed some light on what type of insect to expect from the eggs on the underside of one of our leaves. Please see the picture we posted in our diary dated 6/30/00. We are located in Connecticut. Thanks much - Riverview School Kids

7/5/2000 8:24:44 AM

Commack, NY

those look like squash bug eggs
scott

7/5/2000 9:14:08 AM

Connecticut, USA

Squash them! (no pun intended)

7/5/2000 12:21:44 PM

CT

Thanks for the info John and Farmer Scott. Yes, I do believe you are right. As a matter of fact -- Today, we found and captured an adult squash bug. Maybe we can get a good photo of it to post on in our diary. It was also interesting how those eggs looked under a microscope. We wondered why we couldn't just scrape them off the leaf -- It seems the insects have a way of actually imbedding them into the leaf. Which leads me to our next question -- If we just spray the eggs with Sevin, will it kill the bugs right away when they hatch, of should we cut out those portions of the leaves that have deposits? We hate to damage the leaves unnessarily. Thanks again for your help.

7/5/2000 5:51:36 PM

Connecticut, USA

Maybe you could ask the adult you captured? Won't talk eh? I don't think spraying the eggs will kill them. I try and scrape the eggs off and squish them. Once they hatch Sevin will do the trick but I would hate to LET them hatch!

7/6/2000 7:00:35 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

While i can't say that i ever had much luck controlling Squash bugs with Sevin (or anything else) i have had good luck controlling the little monsters by just hand picking them and tossing them into a bowl of water mixed with dish soap, when i find egg clusters i just scrap them off with a popsicle stick into the same water.
The little monsters like to hide under the vines and under straw mulch or plastic mulch, the trick is to coax them out of hiding, the way to do it is either water the plant with a hose or if you don't have a hose available, take a gallon milk jug full of water and pour it along the vine, the squash bugs will come out of hiding and start climbing the leaf stems, just grab em and send them swimmin!!
good luck and good growin

Glenn Peters

7/21/2000 4:02:03 PM