The one large squash bug was still alive today. Still had it in a jar with a pumpkin leaf. The leaf wasn't showing much sign of further feeding. So I decided to give it one more try. Sprayed the insect directly with the nicotine solution. Shortly after, it fell to the bottom of the jar. It was thrashing its' legs but was too weak to move or climb, even when I put the leaf directly in reach. It did take a while but eventually died.

Sorry, no. I do not have a lot of sympathy for dying squash bugs, especially when I'm experimenting with ways to kill them off completely.

So, this tells me several things. I know that nicotine spray is toxic for only a short while outside of solution, then becomes oxidized and no longer toxic. So subsequent treatments are necessary to kill off adult squash bugs. The smaller ones are more prone to the effects and die off faster. It does take some time and does not work instantly. However, it does at least slow the adult feeding with only one application.

There are two downside to nicotine spray. One is that it is definitely a contact spray. The insect must come in direct contact with the liquid in a short time frame for it to be effective. the second downside is that it is completely non-selective. It will kill beneficials as well as harmful insects. So if you have beneficials in your garden, you must seek out and spray the harmful insects and the immediate area. Wide area spraying will kill anything it contacts.

Seems to me that this would be toxic to ground beetles and earthworms if you water immediately after application. However, because it oxidizes so quickly, this is only true for a short time. So wait at least one hour after treating before watering.

It may well be that planting tobacco plants or companion planting them would be a good deterrent to squash bugs. I'll have to check on effects to beneficials on that one. However, tobacco plants are very ornamental and also deter many other pests.

If you don't smoke, make friends with a smoker, ask them to save butts for you and make your own spray. And don't complain about the smell. The one large squash bug was still alive today. Still had it in a jar with a pumpkin leaf. The leaf wasn't showing much sign of further feeding. So I decided to give it one more try. Sprayed the insect directly with the nicotine solution. Shortly after, it fell to the bottom of the jar. It was thrashing its' legs but was too weak to move or climb, even when I put the leaf directly in reach. It did take a while but eventually died.

Sorry, no. I do not have a lot of sympathy for dying squash bugs, especially when I'm experimenting with ways to kill them off completely.

So, this tells me several things. I know that nicotine spray is toxic for only a short while outside of solution, then becomes oxidized and no longer toxic. So subsequent treatments are necessary to kill off adult squash bugs. The smaller ones are more prone to the effects and die off faster. It does take some time and does not work instantly. However, it does at least slow the adult feeding with only one application.

There are two downside to nicotine spray. One is that it is definitely a contact spray. The insect must come in direct contact with the liquid in a short time frame for it to be effective. the second downside is that it is completely non-selective. It will kill beneficials as well as harmful insects. So if you have beneficials in your garden, you must seek out and spray the harmful insects and the immediate area. Wide area spraying will kill anything it contacts.

Seems to me that this would be toxic to ground beetles and earthworms if you water immediately after application. However, because it oxidizes so quickly, this is only true for a short time. So wait at least one hour after treating before watering.

It may well be that planting tobacco plants or companion planting them would be a good deterrent to squash bugs. I'll have to check on effects to beneficials on that one. However, tobacco plants are very ornamental and also deter many other pests.

If you don't smoke, make friends with a smoker, ask them to save butts for you and make your own spray. And don't complain about the smell.