Very, very interesting. I'm especially interested in the Tachnid fly, which parasitizes both squash bugs and stink bugs. This quote is from University of Mariland article. "Tachinid flies most commonly parasitize the immature life stages (eggs, larvae or caterpillars, nymphs, and/or pupae) of beetles, butterflies, and moths, but also earwigs, grasshoppers, sawflies, and true bugs. Feather legged fly (Trichopoda pennipes) attacks stink bugs and leaf footed bugs, including squash bug and green stink bug. Istocheta aldrichi parasitizes adult Japanese beetles." How cool is that? Apparently they like buckwheat, but also "Most adult tachinid flies feed on nectar and pollen, especially from flowering umbelliferous plants such as carrot, dill, and other herbs, and composite flowers such as asters and rudbeckias , as well as other flowering plants. They will also feed on aphid honeydew, so having non-crop plants infested with aphids helps support tachinid flies."

I know that the bug pressure here is probably too much for these guys alone. If Dawn battles them, in spite of her numerous flowers, you know this is true. Nevertheless, attracting good bugs may be next years obsession.

Tachinid flies are helpful but I just don't see them that often. You can buy them though.

And, I do believe Bruce got this version to link to the FB page question about how to prevent squash bugs because the PDF download I had wouldn't load.

Thanks Dawn! I'm still digging through the information in this one and then will go back and see what they have on other topics.

so whats the most successful way. I was hoping since last year was the first season for me at the new house that they wouldnt find me for awhile but the eventually did. got a really good harvest of straightneck before they wiped us out. Hopefully i can do that again this year. People have told me Seven works for them.

mike

Sevin dust has little impact on squash bugs and probably zero on borers. It will kill the squash bug nymphs, but the adults seem to thrive on it. I'm not sure it doesn't supply some kind of vitamin they need?

I use red cedar mulch and it seems to repel squash bugs, but borers and cucumber beetles aren't phased by it. The mulch will lose it's repelling ability in 4-6 weeks and more will need to be added about mid season.

I mainly rely on handpicking and killing them daily, sometimes, a couple of times a day.

Some of the information in the above PDF is kind of interesting. Especially the use of legumes and buckwheat as companion crops.