Sluggin' Along: Squash Bug

If possible, never pick up or step on a Squash Bug (Anasa tristis). Just don't do it. The sickly sweet smell emanating from its body won't dissipate for at least 24 hours. I found that out the hard way, as I removed a specimen from the back porch and consequently had to smell that cloying odor on my hands and clothes for the rest of the day. The smell is the result of plant juices fermenting inside the bug, which it releases when disturbed. If given the choice, I'd rather sniff a Stink Bug like Halyomorpha halys. With bad odors, sweetness is always worse than bitterness in my opinion.

As their name implies, Squash Bugs feed on plants in the squash family, and prefer to lay their eggs on pumpkin and squash. They inject their toxic saliva into the plants, causing the leaves to wilt and turn black. They can be quite destructive, and can transmit cucurbit yellow vine disease. Follow the instructions carefully on the sites below to perform the proper method of removal.