Squash Bugs, Yuck

These were the first squash bug eggs of the season, back on May 7.  (Note the little baby pine trees – they are all over).

Almost a month later, they are almost out of control.  It is very hard to look for and hand-squash the disgusting, smelly squash bug.  (I can only bring myself to squash the adult bugs with a pair of leather gloves on).  You can readily see the nymph damage – they suck the green life out of your leaves and you can see the holds and yellowing spots that form, and finally end in sections of the leaf turning brown and disintegrating.

These are some squash bug nymphs – soft, gray things with black legs.  If there are a bunch of the underside of a leaf, I will hold one hand over the top of the leaf and rub my hand over the bottom, smashing them all in one nasty swipe.  Icky.