It isn't squash bug egg nor SVB egg nor cucumber beetles egg, the most common squash pests. The next most likely is aphid clusters. But it could be many different things and may easily be something beneficial if various species of butterflies or moths are active in your area already. So there is no reason to assume it is an "enemy". :) The real clue to identity often comes from the number of them found and the type and degree of damage, if any, being done. If there is no real damage being done then just monitor it to see what happens. Dave

I've begun my battle with these pests this week. I take my needle nose pliers and a small Dixie cup of soapy (fill the bottom of the cup with dawn and fill half way with water) water out to the garden with me every night. I thought I could put everyone in the soapy water but I looked away from the cup for a second and the two squash bugs that I had JUST put in there were crawling out so note to self fairly concentrated dawn water doesnâÂÂt kill the adults very quickly. I have transplanted some mint and marigolds by the pumpkins and melons since I have noticed them. I also mix a strong mix (1tbsp of each) of dr bronners liquid soap and neem oil and spray both sides of the leaves. On Lisa Bronners blog she talked about using a tbsp of peppermint soap in a spray bottle for pest control, I have lavender at the moment and that seems to be working pretty well for me. Last year they took over and destroyed our garden so I am determined to destroy them this year!! So far IâÂÂm gaining on them, yesterday I only found 3 adults, a handful of nymphs, and maybe 2 egg clusters. I wonâÂÂt call it a win until IâÂÂve gone several weeks without seeing them.

For the last few days we have seen squash bugs on our bush zucchini. I have been trying (not very successfully) to remove the eggs, and the bugs were sent into a soapy water bath. The bush zucchini is in a container on the deck, all by itself. But in the main garden (40-ish feet away) we have a whole row of various squash and cucumbers. My question is this: should I leave the squash bugs alone on the bush zucchini and use it as a trap crop? I don't mind sacrificing that one plant to save the whole row. We have not seen any squash bugs in the row at all. Or should I put row cover over the bush zuc and just trap the bugs in there? There was a baby praying mantis eating the little bugs yesterday but there are way too many for it to eat them all. Also, if the bugs stay in the potting soil, does that mean that I should not reuse the soil the bush zuc is in next year? Thanks in advance for any advice.

The problem with most control measures is you need to add product using more water, and wet conditions were a major contributor to start with! :( If you have new seedlings or tender rooted starts, letting the soil dry out might not be wise in all cases. If you are looking for a quick kill, mixing 1 part of 3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind in most retail stores) with 4 parts of water will kill them. Spinosad will kill them. As will BT. I can't speak to the effectiveness, but apparently a stick of Cinnamon and/or a little tea bag in a gal of water overnight that you use for regular watering will kill or deter them. Cinnamon, purportedly kills the mold/fungus that attracts the gnats, but I am not sure if that is how it works. I have used hydrogen peroxide, and it works. But as with BT or Spinosad it may take several applications.