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squash bug
noun
: a large black American bug (Anasa tristis of the family Coreidae) injurious to plants of the gourd family
Examples of squash bug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet despite its reputation as a vegetable that grows easily and abundantly, zucchini can actually fall victim to a range of diseases and pests, including leaf blight, bacterial wilt, squash bugs, aphids, and squash vine borer.
—Heather Bien, Southern Living, 3 July 2024
Pests and Problems The three major pests affecting pumpkin plants are squash bugs, cucumber beetles, and melonworms.
—Nadia Hassani, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 May 2024
By dewdrops flare beauty in the morning Until an army of squash bugs land
And eat, then drag their bellies
From the carnage—
Field mice chew their way
Into the house.
—Joy Harjo, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024
For example, you can get rid of squash bugs by protecting plants with a physical barrier like floating row covers, picking the insects off by hand, and planting marigold, calendula, sunflower, daisy, alyssum, or dill to attract beneficial insect predators.
—Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1846, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near squash bug
Cite this Entry
“Squash bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squash%20bug. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
squash bug
noun
: a large black American bug that is destructive to squash vines
More from Merriam-Webster on squash bug
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about squash bug
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