One day I checked on my garden and the zucchini looked like this. It had been so healthy and productive already, I was shocked. But, I was not surprised to find this:
A squash bug. I am sure they are called that because they like squash plants, but I call them that because I squash them. When you are trying to grow an organic garden, it's the only way to control them. I am hoping that by checking every few days I can keep them from finding my other curcurbits (cucumbers, butternut squash, melons, and pumpkins). They kill plants by sucking the sap from the leaves.
This photo is unclear, but the squash bugs are mating. Arg!
Their eggs look like this, on the underside of leaves. I check every leaf and squash them with rocks or sticks. I'm too chicken to use my fingers.
You would be too if you found this when you turned a leaf over. EWWWW! It gives me the heebie jeebies. These are the newly hatched nymphs. I cut this entire leaf off and threw it away. Hopefully I can persevere and preserve a few plants!
Lauren - I'm having the same problem with my zucchini this year! Wasn't a problem last year but this year my plants are covered with those nasty bugs. If only we didn't have to compete with nature's pests when trying to grow a garden!
ReplyDeleteEwww... That's one thing I hope I can handle when I have my own garden, is the bugs and worms!
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