Squash bug nymphs have which notable characteristic when crushed?

Squash bug nymphs have which notable characteristic when crushed?

• A. Damage the plants by chewing and shredding them
• B. Can give humans a painful bite
• C. Have a disagreeable odor when crushed
• D. Are a dark gray when newly hatched

Answer: (C)

Squash bug nymphs have a defensive odor when crushed. They possess scent glands along the abdomen that emit a strong, unpleasant smell, which is a distinctive trait you can use to identify them in the field. This is a key difference from other pests, because they actually feed by piercing and sucking plant juices rather than chewing, so the idea that they damage by chewing isn’t accurate. They don’t bite humans, so that option isn’t right either. Their appearance isn’t defined by a single color right at hatching, as nymphs change as they grow, but the odor remains the notable characteristic you’d notice when handling or crushing them.

Squash bug nymphs have a defensive odor when crushed. They possess scent glands along the abdomen that emit a strong, unpleasant smell, which is a distinctive trait you can use to identify them in the field. This is a key difference from other pests, because they actually feed by piercing and sucking plant juices rather than chewing, so the idea that they damage by chewing isn’t accurate. They don’t bite humans, so that option isn’t right either. Their appearance isn’t defined by a single color right at hatching, as nymphs change as they grow, but the odor remains the notable characteristic you’d notice when handling or crushing them.