In 2006, there were LOTS! We had a particularly warm season which allowed them to hatch in the beginning of June & again in mid July. This year there doesn't seem to be as many. However, it seems for everyone I smoosh, there is one to take it's place. I have a steady stream of them. I'm in Onondaga County.

I use Sevin sparingly on squashes, cucumbers & melons. I hate to dust with that stuff because I know how damaging it is for the environment. I prefer to smoosh the bugs, until they seem to be out of control or doing significant damage. I dusted twice this year. Now my summer squashes are producing, so I won't dust them at all anymore. I have tiny cucumbers, so I'm not dusting those anymore either.

Last year I didn't dust at all. I think it gave the bugs an upper hand this year.

Hi Becky:

Thanks for replying. In the 6 days since I posted, I've noticed an increase in CB numbers but the infestation is still very, very light. I have hand picked the CBs this year. None of my plants (I'm growing 3 varieties of pumpkins, 4 varieties of cucs, 2 varieties of summer squash & 4 varities of winter squash) have been affected. Even during '06, the only plants I lost were Sunshine Squash, a winter squash which looks like a pumpkin. Last year, I started my sunshines in early July to escape the dreaded CBs.

I use to only notice them on cucurbits, but this year they are also on my lettuce, beans, broccoli, tomato & pepper plants. So I might not have fewer. They're just more dispersed - not a good thing.