Neem Oil on squashbug eggs

[LindsayArthurRTR]

Does it work on the eggs if sprayed directly on them?

[Kisal]

According to Colorado State University, neem oil will kill insect eggs. It penetrates the shell of the egg and disrupts the metabolism of the developing insect.

https://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/PHC/hortoil.htm

[LindsayArthurRTR]

Ah! Thanks, I read the whole Neem oil Sticky and this was not addressed. I'm pretty sure I will be doing my first spraying of the year. Not happy about it, but they are too numberous to hand pick now.

[engineeredgarden]

It won't even phase the squashbugs. As a matter of fact, I've seen them survive a direct spraying with liquid sevin. After trying everything on the shelf at Lowes, I finally started killing them manually. It's a smelly solution - but works best.

EG

[LindsayArthurRTR]

yeah, I've been doing that. But it is getting out of control. Last year I had a terrible infestation of squash bugs, and I wasn't organic. I used sevens and it didn't do anything. This year, we have been handpicking. We have been squishing and drowning like crazy and rolling the eggs off and crushing them. EVERYDAY! We water the plants and it really brings the bugs to the top, but, we are obviously missing some because the eggs are just EVERYWHERE. and, they are laying them on everything! I don't expect the spray to kill the adults, but if it will kill the nymphs and the eggs, THAT would be a HUGE help.

I don't expect it to solve all my squashbug problems. I'm not looking for a kill all, I just need a little help. This seems to be the best option for me at this time. They are nearly done, but my second planting are just up and they are already covered in eggs. The leaves are so tender that when I rub the eggs off, I make holes in them. I have been holding off on the freaking out, but I think it's time to pull out some weaponry.

[engineeredgarden]

Have you tried spraying isopropyl rubbing alcohol on them? It works....

EG

[rainbowgardener]

diatomaceous earth should be helpful against them.

For next year (before you have infestation) mulch well and grow under row cover, staked down tight, until you have female flowers opening up. Try planting all around it with aromatic plants such as catnip, tansy, radishes, nasturtiums,or marigolds, beebalm, or mints Don't leave any parts of the vine in your garden and don't plant the squash in the same place next year. Interplant with buckwheat which attracts a little wasp that preys on the squash bugs-- https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/squash_pest.html Put up bat and bird houses!

[LindsayArthurRTR]

Thank you for your comments, boy do I appreciate them

I will try rubbing alcohol first! And DE would be extremely effective because it's been so dry. Row covers are a great idea but would be a little pricey for me to do with 4 45 foot rows of squash. I did have great results with hand picking and I will continue to do that!

I read that squashbugs were attracted to heavily mulched vines. They go there during the night for refuge.

Thanks again! Just trying to find a solution that works best for me.

Rubbing alcohol? How do you apply?

Edit: I planted heavily with icicle radishes, nastertiums, lavender, and marigolds! Not just around, but in between, too. They are truely interplanted.

[engineeredgarden]

apply it at full strength to the bugs (not plants)with a pump spray bottle

EG

[LindsayArthurRTR]

What about the eggs!!! Does it work on the eggs? If I can see the bugs, they don't live...They get drowned or squished. Will it kill the eggs?

[gixxerific]

I have been using soap and pyrithrin (sp). And it does kill the squash bugs. I have also been squashing them manually which defintiley kills them and makes me fell better as well. I have also been spraying the eggs just because, but I take that part of the leaf off and throw in the dumpster. Though I should be soaking them in soap or something than composting them. I just want to make sure they don't come back.

I must have picked off a hundred or MORE eggs the other day off of my pumpkins. As well as dispatched about the 40 or so actual bugs I saw, add to that one Squash vine borer and one SVB adult.

Thinking about this I wouldn't worry about spraying the eggs at all. Just take that section of leaf or the whole leaf off. The damage sustained from removing a leaf is nothing to what can come if all those little buggers hatch.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Rubbing eggs between thumb and fingers gets them off the leaves. On the ground they are food for about a thousand other things...

Polycropping has really helped with the squash bug issue...

S