Category Archives: potato beetles

The destruction of Potato Beetle Damage

Posted on by
Reply

It is a known fact that the potato beetle is the most detrimental pest for potato crops. Both adults and larvae consume foliage and if no pest control plan is maintained, the complete destruction of all foliage of the potato plant occurs.  If no control plan to date is effective for providing long-term protection of all potato crops and to date the pest is a major threat to the livelihood of all potato farmers. The task of deterring them is a major, time consuming task as the have become resistant to many insecticides over the years and have developed stronger populations.

Potato Beetle Damage

The Colorado potato beetle, with scientific name Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a leaf beetle from the family Chrysomelidae. Adults are typically 3/8 inch (10 mm) long, have a yellowish color, dark orange head and ten black vertical stripes on its back. Their eggs are yellowish-orange and are usually found in groups of 20-50 eggs underneath leaves. Their larva is between (3 to 13 mm) long and have a slug-like appearance.

Over the Winter months, the Colorado potato beetle start gathering in woody areas near fields where they have spent the Summer. If the field is not rotated, the potato fields become colonized by the adults which have taken shelter in the field over the Summer. Even if fields are rotated, the pests are able to fly many kilometres back to the field. Once they arrive at the field, they lay eggs within only 5-6 days. On average, a female lays 500-600 eggs and adult live for one to months.

In the summer, adults dig out of the soil and start feeding on the new potato plants. It takes them only seven to nine days to reproduce and lay eggs.

The Colorado beetle is endemic to south west North America, but has since spread through the continent to Europe and Asia. At present this pest covers approximately 8 million square area of North America, about 6 million square kilometres within Europe and Asia. They are also found in large populations in Central Asia, China and Iran and Indian Subcontinent.

Since this beetle has an adaptable lifecycle which is ideally suited to the agricultural lifecycles, it makes them a challenge to control. It is therefore crucial to implement an adequate insecticide plan.

How to control the Potato Beetle Organically

Posted on by
Reply

The Colorado potato beetle, scientific name Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a leaf beetle which invades and destroys potato crops. Adults are typically 3/8 inch (10 mm) long, have a yellowish color, dark orange head and ten black vertical stripes on its back.

There are few successful methods that work well to eradicate the potato beetle. They all necessitate the gardener to keep an eye in the garden and to ensure that they act quickly as soon as they discover any beetles. as soon as evidence of beetles is discovered.

Firstly you may apply Neem oil as needed on the crop so that they drop off the plant. You can also hand hand-pick all beetles, their larvae and eggs and kill them by placing them into a bucket of soapy water. You can also use a vacuum to remove the beetles, eggs and larvae. You may find special bug vacuum cleaners in your hardware store which are suited to this.

Neem oil

Neem oil

There are also many methods you can use to ensure that your potato crop doesn’t get infested with these pests. It is best to combine these methods if you have had a problem with these pests.

Firstly, crop rotation is a proven method which actually works. Don’t grow your potatoes in the exact same spot year after year. Since adults burrow into the soil over Winter, they will emerge again in Summer. They will pick a potato plant and begin reproducing. By rotating your crop, there will be no adults in the soil and you’ll ensure that your crop lasts for a while.

You can also use floating row covers to protect the tops of potato plants. The fabric allows air and light through but protects the plants from the nasty beetles.

Practice companion planting, as there are several plants which repel the beetle. Common varieties are catnip, sage or Tansy.

Use mulch as a base. It not only provides beneficial nutrition and water for the plant, it creates an environment for the predators of the beetle such as lady bugs and green lacewings. You can also plant varieties of potato that are resistant to the bug, such as Russet Burbank.

You can indeed control the population of Potato Beetles by putting a few simple rules in action which include rotating the crop, mulching, companion planting and using plants that are resistant to the bug. This nasty bug is detrimental to the potato farmer and is a costly exercise to eradicate them commercially.

Potato Beetle- Facts you need to know

Posted on by
Reply

The Colorado potato beetle is commonly found in Southwest USA and plagues Potato crops. Its scientific name is Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), and is a leaf beetle from the family Chrysomelidae. Adults are usually 3/8 inch (10 mm) long, have a yellowish color, dark orange head and ten black vertical stripes on their back. Their eggs are yellowish-orange and are usually found in groups of 20-50 eggs underneath leaves. Their larvae are between (3 to 13 mm) long and have a slug-like appearance.

potato-beetles

It is important to know that the potato beetle is the most damaging pest for potato crops around the world. Both the adult and larvae of the beetle eat foliage and if no pest control plan is established, the complete annihilation of all foliage of the potato plant occurs, thereby killing the plant.  To date, there is no effective solution for providing long-term protection of all potato crops and the pest is a major threat to the income of all potato farmers. The chore of preventing them is a major, time consuming task as the have become resilient to many insecticides over the ages and have developed robust populations which continue to come back year after year.

Over the cooler months, the Colorado potato beetle start gathering in woody areas near fields where they have spent the Summer. If the field is not rotated or sown, the potato fields become colonized by the adults which have taken shelter in the field over the Summer. Even if fields are alternated, the pests are able to fly many miles back to the field. Once they arrive at the field, they lay eggs in only 5-6 days. On average, a female lays 500-600 eggs and adult lives for a few months.

In the summer, adults burrow out of the soil and start feeding on the new potato plants. It takes them only seven to nine days to reproduce and lay eggs.

This beetle is prevalent to south west North America, but has since spread through the continent to Europe and Asia. At present, this pest covers approximately 8 million square kilometres of North America, about 6 million square kilometres within Europe and Asia. They are also found in large populations in Central Asia, China and Iran and Indian Subcontinent.

Since this beetle has a flexible lifecycle which is ideally suited to the lifecycle of the potato crop, it makes them a trial to control. It is therefore vital to implement a satisfactory insecticide plan.

Colorado potato beetle

Posted on by
Reply

The Colorado potato beetle is found in most areas in US and Canada. The adult beetles yellow, convex shaped are less than an inch long. These beetles have an orange colored head and have black colored stripes on the body. Their eggs laid under the leaves of plants are yellow in color. The smaller baby beetles called grubs are red with black spots and chew up the leaves and new twigs. There can be one or more generations in a year. They hibernate in the winter and emerge from the mud in the spring or summer.

Colorado Potato Beetle

Colorado Potato Beetle

You know that these bugs are attacking your crop from the foliage which becomes laden with sleletal leaves. The Colorado Potato beetle attacks eggplants and tomato plants too. While they can eat away any plant they prefer these varieties only. The best way to eliminate them is to use pyrethrum spray on the plant’s foliage and use a good organic mulch at the roots. While after their lifecycle is done they emerge after de-wintering from the mud they can be hidden in the mud. So a good mulch will flush them out.

Where there is heavy infestation, pull out the plants and destroy the crops so that they are rid immediately. Use a nightshade to 10-17 meters perimeter and then remove the crops infested. It is advisable not to use any spray that will harm the crops or make them poison to eat. It is better to use Pyrethium with a gap of 3 to 4  days which you can dust or spray.

You could use a home remedy to kill these pesky beetles. Spray or sprinkle some bran or corndust over the plants infested. The beetle loves to consume this and soon bursts with its enormous size at it grows 3 to 4 times its size and then bursts.

Potato beetle

Potato beetle

Clean all the muck in the autumn season. Dig up the soil to about 7 to 8 inches. Then add good mulch and let mix. Then before you plant the seeds, rake up the soil one more time. The bugs which may have survived will be eliminated with the second time raking. Birds help to finish up the rest.

If you plan to plant the seeds of potato plants to bloom in later May can help save the crops from Colorado Potato beetles. Use the technique of rotating crops so that you can fool the beetel from having an invasion of your potatoes.

Manually remove these beetles and larvae  or use the stink bug which can help remove the Colorado potato bugs. Ladybugs love to feast on these beetles and eggs. The stink bugs also do an adequate job.