I just squirt some soap in the bucket and add water. Is there a specific ratio? If you're just going to knock them into the bucket to drown, I wouldn't think so. If you're thinking of spraying the plants themselves, then maybe someone else can help you figure out the dilution.

I also just add a squirt....enough to break the surface tension so the bugs sink when put into the water. And don't just pour them out a little later. They probably aren't really dead. Either leave them in the bucket a long time or pour them out on pavement and stomp the dead looking ones til you are certain they won't revive.

Haven't tried controlling them with a soap spray but most plants will only tolerate very dilute soap sprays. I'll let someone else with experience using it on squash give details.

If you water the squash near the ground at the base of the plant the bugs will crawl up to the top of the leaves where they are easier to see. Grab them quick....they are some very speedy insects.

They like to hide under things. Put a board or a piece of cardboard with a brick on top next to your plants. Wait a few hours, then step on the ones that take shelter under the cardboard.

I suspect that if you get the squash bugs wet they will die. adding a little soap makes it wet the bug easier instead of the water rolling off the bug. the soap acts as a wetting agent. the ratio of soap to water is not too important. using detergent is stronger and can damage the plant much easier then a natural soap like Ivory or Dawn. anyway. do not sweat the small stuff. Get a natural soap like Ivory and you will be just fine. Avoid Detergents. Or use only a few drops of detergent.

Or better yet use nothing but plain water and see if they die just as well. JUST GET THEM WET. If you go back later you should see lots of dead ones everywhere.

I killed a couple hundred squash bugs last week by dousing my squash plants with two large buckets of soapy water. I only doused five out of twenty plants, because those were badly infested with bugs. I put two teaspoons (two squirts) of plain liquid dish soap into a two gallon bucket then filled it with water. The soap coats the body of the insect causing suffocation. I checked the plants this morning, and only saw evidence of a few squash bugs. I'll do another soapy douse this week to keep the remaing bugs at a minimum population. Do not use antibacterial soap, it will kill the plants.

Lorna

That would be my question - would soapy water soaking into the soil kill the plants?

I was somewhat annoyed yesterday, I mixed up some organic pyrethrum soap stuff, and sprayed the heck out of a mess of those things, and it didn't even phase 'em. This morning, moved up to rotenone, and I'll check and see tomorrow. Crucial last two weeks of squash formation.

I sprayed them with insecticidal soap, did nothing; then used Sevin powder, did nothing; then used dishwashing soap spray...it was like it was a nice shower for them! I resorted to squishing them my fingers while I was watering. I pulled all the squash vines up and last time I watered I did not see any.

They got the squash, cucumber and some of my small melon vines. Now that they are gone the few remaining melons are beginning to put on more melons.

I wanted to grow some squash this fall but wonder if it is worth my time. Wanted to put more in the freezer and send some to my son.

Peggy

No, soapy water soaking into the soil does not kill the plants, as long as it is simple soap--not the antibacterial soap. You have to make sure to get the undersides of the leaves to kill the bugs. That is why I use a bucket of soapy water. I can slosh the soapy water up underneath the leaves. I've been using dish soap in the garden for many years, on all types of plants including roses. I use one teaspoon of liquid dish soap to a gallon of water.
Lorna

Naturegirl said...

>>If you water the squash near the ground at the base of the plant the bugs will crawl up to the top of the leaves.

And it works like a charm Naturegirl!!

..just wait 10 min and pluck em off. Or you can knock em into soapy water if you like. If I do this every day or so for a few days you'll have none.

This works on melons too.

I put on a pair of rubber (doctor office kind) gloves and I go a squishing. I take along a pair of scissors for any that drop off before I can grab them. I'm always amazed at how cleaverly they disguise themselves once on the ground. I have to really search for them, when they fall off, even though I've just watched them fall. I was squeamish initially (and still am somewhat) but I just mash those boogers!!!

I've discovered MANY babies all over one leaf before and I just grabbed the whole leaf (in my gloved hand) and squeezed the whole thing...yuck...but it killed 10 or more nymphs at once.

rjinga - to me, that's the only way to deal with them. I'm not squeamish at all, though. I really took it to the bugs this year!

EG

Get yourself a battery operated vacuum and douse the plants with a hose. The squash bugs will crawl to the top of the plants to dry off and you can vacuum them right up. Yay, dustbuster!!!

so once inside the dustbuster, then what? still some squishing involved I would guess. But how do you get them OUT?