It is approximately 1.5 mm long and 1 mm wide. Arranged in a checker-like pattern, eggs typically occur on the foliage in masses of 20 to 40. Nymph - The five nymphal instars range in length from 2.5 to 10 mm. The first instar is green with rose-colored legs, antennae, and head. These appendages darken in a few hours.
Subsequent instars are grayish-white with dark heads, legs, and antennae.
The last two instars have noticeable wing pads. Within vegetable gardens, they usually hide under leaves or around the base of plants. These bugs characteristically shy away or move to cover when approached. Host Plants - All cucurbit vine crops are subject to squash bug infection. The bugs prefer squash, pumpkin, cucumber, and melon, in that order.