What plants are damaged by squash bugs?

Squash bugs (Anasa tristis) are insects that primarily cause damage to plants within the gourd family, known as Cucurbitaceae.1

It is important to distinguish squash bugs from other pests that affect similar crops. While the squash bug is a specific type of insect, the squash vine borer is a different organism—a moth larva—that also targets plants in this family, including squash, pumpkins, gourds, and cucumbers. Both pests can significantly impact the health and yield of these garden crops.2