


Huw Penson/ Habitat: Where to Find Squash Beetles Squash Beetle, Epilachna borealis, on a red leaf with a black background.

#ORANGE SQUASH HOW TO#
Their potentially six-month lifespan allows plenty of time for damage and understanding what they are and how to eliminate them is an important step in preserving your garden. Identification ensures that you don’t kill off insects that could benefit your garden. While these insects may look similar to certain bugs, they are detrimental to plant life. Knowing identification facts is crucial to your garden and plant life. Pupae are yellow grubs, and they have an oily chemical that comes from their body to deter ants and other predators. When the eggs hatch, the babies (or larvae) have spiky black hairs on them, resembling small hedgehogs that are yellow in color.
#ORANGE SQUASH FULL#
This is the best stage to remove them before they grow into the full adult insects that they will be.

The eggs, which are often found in clusters of 30 or more, are yellow and long, found underneath leaves. Proper identification of a squash beetle is crucial to determining the best way to prevent them or kill off existing larvae. See all of our entertaining and insightful animal articles.Īppearance: How to Identify Squash Beetle “Borealis” has Latin roots, coming from the word “boreal,” which literally translates to mean “northern.” It likely has this name for the main habitat it comes from in the United States. While “Epilachna” seemingly comes from a combination of New Latin words, it primarily comes from the Greek word “lachnē,” which means woolly hair. Their scientific name – Epilachna borealis – refers specifically to the squash beetle, not to any other insects. They are often mistaken for a ladybug or a cucumber beetle, but they are entirely independent of these other insects. Squash lady beetles are from the Coccinellidae family and the Coleoptera order. Squash Beetle Species, Types, and Scientific Name A stink bug is much closer to a squash bug, though they are still very different from the squash beetle. These bugs release an odor when threatened, while the biggest threat of the squash beetle is the bacteria left behind by their saliva. The two insects look almost nothing alike in their coloring, and the stink bug tends to be much larger. Knowing certain facts about the squash beetle and the stink bug makes them easier to differentiate. Not to be mistaken for a squash bug, squash lady beetles could bring major chaos to your plant life. Dealing with their eggs is the easiest prevention method, stopping the insects before they flourish into babies. There are a few natural deterrents, especially if you leave bug traps around the common areas where they accumulate. With an average lifespan of just 2-6 months, you may be surprised at the amount of damage that these insects can impose on your garden. The squash beetle, also known as the squash lady beetle or the squash ladybug, has a beautiful orange and yellow shell, featuring a specific arrangement of spots along its back. While the squash bug has a shield-like exoskeleton, the squash beetle looks much more like a ladybug. Squash beetles are not the same as squash bugs.
