Probably not...but could it be Black Flea Beetles? I think they usually attack other stuff, but they do look like you describe.

That is what someone on another forum suggested also. I had never heard of them, but I think that might be what it is after looking them up. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thanks for bringing this up. We live in Maryville and have had the same problems with our squash and zucchini. It was a mystery to us. My husband put some insect dust and all but one of our plants came back and have started to produce.

I just found these this morning after losing three plants almost overnight, small black beetles boring into the vines. I will try soapy spray, they are definitely not the flea beetle, much larger. About 1/4" long.