Howdy, Folks...
Oh m'goodness, I forgot I suggested this tip. What a nice surprise.
"I love non toxic methods to kill the baddies."
Ann, yes, it is a fairly non-toxic way but remember even the safest insect control methods may have certain drawbacks. Soap sprays, used properly sure will help control/kill certain pests (most of them the soft-bodied kind) they can also hurt some of the beneficials. Also, improperly mixed and/or applied may have an affect on certain plants so use caution. With squash plants I feel perfectly safe spraying it, having never seen any detrimental affect to the plant itself.
Chelle...as for the eggs, I can't honestly make a for-sure statement about that mainly because I'd have to do some "personal proof", something you now make me wanna do! :>) But I do know this: The fatty acids in the soap work by clogging the pores of the insects and, depending on the insect, will either cause them to asphyxiate (because many of them breath through their skin) or will dehydrate them (like the soft-bodied bugs like aphids, etc). That being the case I see the squash bud eggs as being "breathable unborn creatures" so can only guess they eggs are either being smothered or their tissue is being broken down by the fatty acids. I'll let you know when I try that experiment! I just gotta know for sure! :>)
Lastly, just to cover more of the bases, everyone should be careful using any soap or soap/alcohol or oil spray during the heat of the day so you don't damage your plants.
Shoe (off to eat a dead chicken, some fresh-picked Romano beans, and taters in a basil and butter sauce!)
Hi, Lin! Hope all is well in sunny Florida!
