UGH! More scary than your carved jack-o’-lantern are the bugs that gravitate to the cut pumpkin! To curb this, brush a generous amount of lemon juice on all the carved edges. The strong citrus scent will deter the insects from feasting on your pumpkin. Repeat every few days. A bonus: the lemon juice slows down the oxidation that causes rot so your pumpkin stays fresh longr.