How to Get Rid of Squash Bugs

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By Mike
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Get Rid of Squash Bugs

Squash bugs (like shown in the picture) are harmless to humans. However they are annoying and destructive to broadleaf crops, specifically squash, hence the name. Pesticides won't work 100% and can be harmful to your garden's ecosystem and vegetation that you grow. Here is a safe organic way to get rid of them.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Garden gloves
Syrup, honey or molasses
coffee can with lid

Step 1

Put about a half inch of syrup, honey or molasses at the bottom of your coffee can and swirl it around so you can get it up on the sides of the interior of the can.
Step 2

Put your gardening work gloves on and start picking the squash bugs off your plants and put them in the coffee can. The syrup, molasses and/or honey creates a sticky layer that prohibits the bugs from flying away. I find it best to just flick them off the leaf and into the can. Make sure you look on the underside of the leaves for the egg sacks.
Step 3

Once you have removed all of the bugs, put the lid on the can, make sure it is airtight and put it in direct sunlight. The bugs will suffocate and fry in the sunlight. Inhumane? maybe, but they will be gone and is less messy than squashing them (no pun intended).