June Bug Bingo
We usually start talking about squash vine borer around the 4th of July. That's when everyone's gorgeous zucchini plants suddenly flop over, wilted and sad, revealing massive damage at the base of the stem. But maybe the SVB season has started earlier, or maybe we are just on high alert, because already in early June, we are out here doing surgery to cut out these worms and injecting our plants with BT like field medics in a war.
TBH all the bugs seem to be out early. Or maybe we just always forget how fast they show up. We're also seeing little hornworms, Japanese beetles in places they've never been, and Colorado potato beetle larvae (or possibly false potato beetle, it’s hard to tell at this stage) chowing down on eggplants. They are like slugs with legs and mouths, ugh. Here's a photo, but don't click if you are squeamish!
But for every bug making me crazy, there's another one making me stop and take a curious closer look.
Last week I brought my dinner out into the garden and watched fireflies light up as I ate a big harvest bowl. As much as the "bad" bugs annoy me, I can't deny all the insect action in the garden just feels good when I'm tending. I’m like a garden Cinderella surrounded by flying and crawling helpers. I know I'm fostering a diverse ecosystem and that each little being is doing its part. I even start to look forward to certain species showing up: When will the swallowtail caterpillars come eat my giant fennel? How many different types of bees can I identify on the coneflower?
This is basically what gardening in June feels like: a constant cast of characters showing up, some welcome, some not. Some days you’re a Disney princess singing to the butterflies, some days you’re an action hero with a full arsenal. So this year, we made something to help you keep track of it all: June Bug Bingo.
It's exactly what it sounds like. A bingo card full of the bugs you're most likely to spot in a Middle Tennessee kitchen garden right now: the troublemakers, the good guys, and the ones that are just... there, minding their business. Some squares you'll dread. Some you'll be thrilled to check off. Either way, this game is meant to encourage you to stop and look at what's going on out there instead of just reacting to it.
Print it, pin it, screenshot it, or save this link and open it on your phone next time you're out in the garden. Can you get a blackout?!
Let’s highlight a few of critters you’re likely to check off in the next week:
The Troublemakers
You already know about squash vine borers, they're the reason for the field medic routine. Look for a small hole near the base of the stem with sawdust-like frass piled around it. If you find one, slice the larva out with a knife or inject the stem with BT before the damage spreads further up the plant.
Cucumber beetles are smaller but just as determined. Striped or spotted, both varieties chew on leaves, flowers, and fruit, and both can spread bacterial wilt while they're at it. Hand-picking is your best defense, but sometimes the simplest plan is to just plant more seeds. A second succession of cucumbers means you're not pinning all your hopes on the plants the beetles already found.
In the “Mostly Annoying” Catergory
Japanese beetles look like they mean business. They are metallic, armored, and often clustered in groups stripping a leaf down to its veins. But for most kitchen gardens, they're more nuisance than true threat. The most satisfying response is also the simplest: knock them into a cup of soapy water and move on with your day. They like the rose family (including bramble berries), so if you’re a Rosarian, you might be well beyond annoyed by these guys.
The Delights
Not everything on this card is a problem to solve. Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars are usually after your fennel, dill, or parsley, not your tomatoes or squash. If you spot one, it's often fine to just let it eat. I’ve made so much chimichurri already, they can have my parsley. Jumping spiders are tiny, curious, and harmless to you, and they're quietly hunting the bugs that actually are causing damage. TY! And fireflies? Right now they're in their reproductive stage, which means soon their larvae will be out hunting — and slugs are their favorite meal. A bug that's basically just here to glitter and eat your slugs for you is 100% a fairy princess friend.
Curiosity Over Combat
Most people react to a bug in their garden with fear or frustration, already searching for how to get rid of it. That's why we made you a bingo card instead of a hit list, to remind you to slow down before you act.
Take a closer look at what you're actually dealing with. Is it a real threat, or just a few holes in a leaf you'll never notice by harvest time? Start with the simplest response first (hand-picking beats spraying, every time), and let go of the idea that your garden needs to be pest-free to be thriving.
Some bugs are worth fighting. Some are worth ignoring. And some, like that jumping spider that startled you, or the firefly outside your window tonight, are worth just sitting back and watching.
Now Go Play
Screenshot your June Bug Bingo card, take it out to the garden, and see what you find. Tag us with your finds. We want to see your jumping spiders, your firefly nights, and yes, even your squash vine borer battle scars (on the plant stems, not your fingers!)
And if you spot something on the card you're not sure how to handle? Leave a comment below. That's what we're here for.
