Jul 9, 2007

Pumpkin Bugs

Poor Tiffany encounters this infestation of bugs on her pumpkins every year. Maybe if we can help identify them she'll know how best to ward them off this coming Halloween - after all, knowing is half the battle.

They look to be some sort of squash bug. Any takers out there?

Thanks for the photo, Tiffany.

15 comments:

Burgundee said...

Why do they look like rice crispies to me? :0

Jade said...

They look like stink bugs to me, but I'm probably way off. Those aren't where my expertise lies.

g3 said...

We called those stink bugs too... but there's probably some actual official name for them. I just know they were one of the few bugs that freaked me out ;)

Anonymous said...

Found this om Wiki. It looks like them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Marmorated_Stink_Bug

Anonymous said...

GAHHH!!! Too many bugs on that pumpkin!!! I'd be tempted to torch the garden...

Anonymous said...

Ironically, they look a little like pumpkin seeds.

Seriously, I think napalm is the only answer here.

Anonymous said...

GAAAK!! They DO look like pumpkin seeds, one of my favorite munching foods. Yeck!! There's irony for you. I agree. Napalm is the only answer.

Anonymous said...

ask the folks at "whats that bug?"

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/index.html

Unknown said...

I absolutely hate those things! They ruin my squash every year. The really stupid thing, though, is I keep planting squash.....

Chloe.Ho said...

IT is super gross!!...i hate those bugs.they make mi sick!..

Anonymous said...

If you live close to a college/university or university extension office you can always take some bugs to them. Call first to see how they want them brought in, but when I did my specimen collection: airtight container + sample of bugs + freezer for 48 hrs and then take them in.

mrsmig said...

Unfortunately, you have squash bugs. Here's a good article about the bugs, their life cycle and how to get them under control:

http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/cucs/squabug.htm

Miranda said...

They *really* look like pumpkin seeds. Fortunately, by the time pumpkin seed season rolls around again (I usually roast the seeds from my Halloween pumpkins, and for some reason don't buy pumpkin seeds in stores), the memory of this photo will probably have faded. :-)

Anonymous said...

Ahh, I had some of those in the garden last year. Unfortunately, I didn't recognize them until it was too late for some of the plants, but they are easily killed with a mixture of dishsoap (I used Dawn) and water. As are pretty much every other hard-shelled garden pests.

Anonymous said...

They are squash bugs, and a real pain! They will come back every year, and even if you plant the pumpkin patch or garden in a different spot, they will somehow find it! I've discovered that hard work and Seven works wonders. Just remember to check the underside of the leaves, as they love to hide there! Just dust the plants well, and actively pursue the little buggers and the pumpkins and squash will still flourish. Much easier to control than vine borers; now those are devastating and gross!