Fauna
Insect

Squash Bug

Anasa tristis

Also known as Pumpkin Bug, Squash Stink Bug

Squash bugs aggregate under dense foliage where they pierce stems and leaves to drink sap from cucurbits like pumpkins and squash. Adults overwinter beneath garden leaf litter or crop residue before emerging in late spring to deposit neat, bronze egg clusters along leaf veins. When threatened or crushed, adults release a pungent, foul-smelling liquid from thoracic glands to deter predators.

HerbivoreAgricultural PestDefensive Odor
Squash Bug reference1 / 7
(c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySquash sap, Pumpkin sap, Cucurbit foliage
Predators
  • Tachinid flies
  • Spiders
  • Toads
ThreatsParasitic flies, cold winter temperatures, and crop rotation
HabitatsAgricultural fields, vegetable gardens, and compost sites
Life span1–2 years
Classification
  1. FamilyCoreidae
  2. SpeciesAnasa tristis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Gardening Impact: Check undersides of squash leaves for bronze egg clusters and scrape them off.
  • Defensive Scent: Avoid crushing adults directly to prevent the release of a pungent, lingering odor.
  • Winter Cleanup: Remove dead garden vegetation in autumn to destroy preferred overwintering sites.
Related species
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