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    The Squash Bug (Anasa Tristis) is an insect located all throughout the United States. They are very common, so they cause a threat for a large portion of house gardens. They feed on gourds, like squashes and pumpkins, and other members in the Cucurbita genus (such as cucumbers).

 

    Adult Squash Bugs have a flattened body, and typically measure ⅝ of an inch in length and ⅓ of an inch wide. Squash Bugs are generally dark grey to a dark brown and have either slight orange or brown stripes on their abdomens. Their eggs are small and elliptical (1/16 inches in length), and have either a yellowish or bronze color to them.

 

    The life cycle of the Squash Bug is fairly common for an insect. Their eggs take about 10 days to hatch. Nymphs require about four to six weeks before maturing into adults (a nymph is an immature stage of a bug after hatching (before adulthood)). One generation develops each year, although it is possible that a second generation can form pre-maturely in the same year. The life stages overlap and all of them can be seen at any given time during the growing season.