I came back from vacation to find the zuchinni plant (which was gorgeous) wilted but not completely wilted.  I thought it needed more water but I couldn't figure out why (the sprinkler reaches fine).  After I gave it water, I found lots of beetles (black and orange) on the plant!.  I don't know if there is  hope.  The flowers and leaves are intact, just wilted, not the flower.  I have another plant next to it and I'm terrified of the same result.  I looked online but it only refers to bugs that are "yellow and black" and the picture doesn't look like the bugs I have.  

Please help me if you know these creatures.

I have seen these bugs before but never in the garden.  I don't know the name of their species or if they are harmful.  The zuchinni I picked was intact.

Thanks

Carmina

Carmina:

After I gave it water, I found lots of beetles (black and orange) on the plant!. 

It sounds like they might be squash bugs. I found a site with pictures and an explanation of what they are and how to control them: 

http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/cucs/squabug.htm

One thing they don't mention is that next year, you need to till the garden area several times, spaced out and that will help kill the ones overwintering. Clean up all debris as soon as the harvest is over, then till late in the fall, then again whenever the ground can be worked. Turning over the soil, leaves and any debris will expose them to cold weather which will kill them. 

 also burn the plants at the end of season, bugs, eggs and all. Do not compost.

We use Sevin dust on the suchini. squash, pumpkins and cucumbers. The same bugs will infect them all.

 These have shown up from time to time on my plants. I have had good success in hand picking the bugs off the plants, tossing them into a child's bucketfilled with hot water &a little hand dishwashing soap. Sometimes I wear latex gloves & sometimes no; I haven't been bitten or anything, but the gloves help me not to drop the bugs once I have them.  I also spray the plants with soapy water & look for the eggs - on the underside of the leaves. I remove that leaf & squash the eggs.

I agree that the plants should not be composted. I am not in a place where I can burn the garden, but I can bag up the plants & put them in the garbage & that is what I do. After the plants are gone, I also spray the ground with soapy water.  So for it has done a good job of controlling the bugs. 

Thanks for all the advice.  I will pull the plant and throw it away.  It did kill it but the plant next to it is intact, thank goodness!  I will clean the whole area after the harvest and start over next time. 

Carmina