Hi all, first time poster here and in need of some help identifying some pests that I originally thought were aphids but now I'm pretty sure they're not...

These bugs have been ravaging my buttercup squash and cucumber plants. They're definitely being assisted or at least attracting ants, but when they look like aphids, they're really eggs, at least it seems. They start green/yellow but have no legs (hence eggs?) and then they darken to brown and seem to be adults. When I cut badly infected leaves off the bugs dry up into what seems a powder (3rd pic).

Anyone know what these are and how to get rid of them? Prefer a non-chemical method. Spraying them down and putting ladybugs there has seemed to keep them at bay, but they're still around...

Thanks in advance and take care
Ken

edit/ps - I'm in El Paso, Tx. in case it matters :)

eggs/young?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2bsz9xvra8wcwvu/IMG_3302.JPG

more of them... (mixed stages - attached picture)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u6i76vvs4r7v9kx/IMG_3299.JPG

adult stage? dried up and powdered
https://www.dropbox.com/s/34s15vegh5w1fc1/IMG_3291.JPG

This post was edited by kif2k13 on Thu, Jul 11, 13 at 19:11