Hand-pick squash bugs from leaves, stems, and undersides of leaves
Drop them into a bucket of soapy water
Crush egg clusters on the undersides of leaves
Remove and destroy heavily infested plant parts
Use row covers early in the season before flowering
Keep garden debris and old vines cleaned up
Rotate squash and related crops each year
Use trap crops like Blue Hubbard squash
Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap to young bugs
Spray stems and leaf undersides thoroughly
Check plants daily during peak season
Use mulch sparingly near plants if it shelters bugs
Encourage beneficial insects and birds
Remove plant debris at the end of the season
Use floating row covers until plants bloom
Consider diatomaceous earth around plant bases
Use labeled insecticides only if infestations are severe