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Squash bugs definitely get on tomato plants, and if you’ve ever spotted one of these flat, grayish-brown insects crawling around your precious tomato vines, you already know how frustrating it can be.
Yes, squash bugs get on tomato plants even though tomatoes aren’t their favorite food, and they can cause real damage if you don’t act fast.
These pests are usually associated with squash, pumpkins, and other cucurbits, but they’re not picky when they’re hungry or looking for a place to hide.
In this post, we’ll look at why squash bugs get on tomato plants, what kind of damage they cause, and how you can protect your tomatoes from them.
Let’s dig in.
Why Squash Bugs Get on Tomato Plants
Squash bugs get on tomato plants for a few very practical reasons, and understanding those reasons is the first step toward stopping them.
1. They’re Opportunistic Feeders
Squash bugs get on tomato plants because they’re opportunistic feeders, not because tomatoes are their ideal host.
When their preferred squash plants dry up, get harvested, or become overcrowded, squash bugs will move on to whatever is nearby.
Tomato plants often grow close to squash in home gardens, so they become an easy target.
2. They Need Shelter and Moisture
Squash bugs get on tomato plants because dense tomato foliage offers shade and humidity, which these pests love.
Tomato plants provide a cool, protected place for squash bugs to hide during hot afternoons.
They also like to crawl into cracks in the soil around tomato stems, especially in mulched beds.
3. They’re Looking for Overwintering Spots
As fall approaches, squash bugs get on tomato plants while searching for places to overwinter.
Tomato vines, dead leaves, and nearby garden debris make perfect winter shelters for squash bugs.
That’s why you’ll often see squash bugs on tomato plants late in the season, even when no squash is around.
4. They Can Mistake Tomato Plants for Host Plants
Squash bugs get on tomato plants sometimes because they simply mistake them for a suitable host.
Young squash bugs, called nymphs, aren’t always great at picking the right plant.
And once a few squash bugs settle on tomato plants, others tend to follow.
What Damage Do Squash Bugs Cause to Tomato Plants?
When squash bugs get on tomato plants, they don’t just hang out, they feed and cause damage.
1. Leaf Yellowing and Wilting
Squash bugs get on tomato plants and pierce the leaves with their needle-like mouthparts to suck out plant juices.
This feeding causes yellow spots that spread, and eventually the leaves wilt and turn brown.
2. Stunted Growth
If squash bugs get on tomato plants early in the season, the plants can become stunted.
That’s because the pests drain energy that the tomato plant needs for new growth and fruit production.
3. Reduced Tomato Yield
When squash bugs get on tomato plants, you’ll often notice fewer tomatoes and smaller fruit.
Heavy infestations can cause flowers to drop before they ever set fruit.
4. Introduction of Disease
Squash bugs get on tomato plants and can transmit diseases as they feed, including bacterial wilt.
Once a tomato plant is infected, there’s no cure, and it may need to be removed.
How to Keep Squash Bugs Off Tomato Plants
Since squash bugs get on tomato plants so easily, prevention is the best strategy.
1. Practice Crop Rotation
Don’t plant tomatoes where squash grew last year, because squash bugs get on tomato plants more readily when they’re already in the soil nearby.
2. Remove Garden Debris
Clean up squash vines and tomato plant debris at the end of the season so squash bugs get on tomato plants less often the following year.
3. Use Row Covers Early
Floating row covers can stop squash bugs from getting on tomato plants while the plants are young and vulnerable.
Just remove the covers when tomatoes start flowering so pollinators can get in.
4. Inspect Plants Regularly
Check under tomato leaves and around the base of stems, because squash bugs get on tomato plants and hide in those exact spots.
5. Handpick and Destroy
If squash bugs get on tomato plants, pick them off by hand and drop them into soapy water.
6. Use Diatomaceous Earth or Insecticidal Soap
These treatments work well when squash bugs get on tomato plants, especially on young nymphs.
So, Do Squash Bugs Get on Tomato Plants?
Squash bugs do get on tomato plants, and they can cause yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and reduced yields if left unchecked.
The reasons squash bugs get on tomato plants range from opportunistic feeding to seeking shelter and overwintering spots.
By rotating crops, cleaning up debris, and inspecting your plants often, you can stop squash bugs from getting on tomato plants and keep your harvest safe.
So if you’ve been wondering whether squash bugs get on tomato plants, now you know they do, and you know exactly what to do about it.