# whats the best thing to kill pumpkin pests?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-to-kill-pumpkin-pests/794202>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 20, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-to-kill-pumpkin-pests/794202 "2017-08-20T18:43:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-to-kill-pumpkin-pests/794202/1 "2017-08-20T18:43:58Z")

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Ok the squirrel problem solved its self but we have a new problem … squash bugs and other pumpkin related pests…

I’m looking for something to buy or make to spray on them … anyone have experience in this area ?

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-to-kill-pumpkin-pests/794202/2 "2017-08-20T18:50:27Z")

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If slugs are a problem, a shallow pie pan sunk down level with the ground and filled with beer (I bought a can of PBR so as not to waste good stuff) works well.

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**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-to-kill-pumpkin-pests/794202/3 "2017-08-20T21:41:23Z")

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A mixture of unscented dish soap (Dawn or similar) and water sprayed directly on the bugs will kill them without damaging your plants, and with minimal impact on the environment.

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**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-thing-to-kill-pumpkin-pests/794202/4 "2017-08-20T22:04:19Z")

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> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#):
>
> A mixture of unscented dish soap (Dawn or similar) and water sprayed directly on the bugs will kill them without damaging your plants, and with minimal impact on the environment.

I put some chili powder in my spray and dish soap.  
If there a farmer Co - op near the OP they could see if co op sell lady bugs .

The beer really works , I was told to put some beer out to kill the snails that were eating my veggies plants . I went out at night and sure enough the snails were getting drunk !