Hi All,
When I went to water the children yesterday, I noticed some strange movement on one of my zukes. On investigation, it was about 10 huge , 1" squash bugs. This would be the overwinter phase that goes out and lays eggs in the spring. And they were socializing (wink, wink).
So I decided to feed then their dinner. Their first course was a bath of pyrethrin. Then, ten minutes later, soapy water and cayenne pepper. When I was done, the plant looked like I had covered it with cool whip. :-)
At least they are slow, pick on a single plant to socialize on, and are easy to locate at that size.
The way I have my plants spaced out this year, I have 360 degree access to all sides, so they are easy to spray.
And, I found no eggs under the leaves (yet). Apparently, they did not have enough time socializing before the diarrhea kicked in.
This means WAR!
Death to earwigs! Death to squash bugs!
-T
Of the ~50 radish plants I had sprouting up, I now have zero. Lesson leaned. Sprout my plants to earwig defendable size before the earwigs hatch in the summer.