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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Garden Pests can be of many kinds. From insects such as potato beetles and rodents  to birds and rabbit, there can be various kinds of a pests in the garden. Some of the most commonly witnessed pests include caterpillars, snails, worms, slugs, gophers and birds. Each of the pests can affect the garden in their own unique way and have to be dealt with individually in many cases.

As a common garden pest, insects can be quite a nuisance. Capable of living hidden under leaves, in the soil or in weeds; insects can cause much damage if they go unchecked. A good way to curb the menace of insects as Garden Pests is by dealing with any area in which insects can live. Removing any decaying matter, weeds and old leaves from the garden can go a long way in checking insects in a garden. Another tried and tested method of curtailing the infestation of insects in any garden is by routinely turning over the soil and dislodging any large mounds of dirt that can be a good place for insects to hide. The problem of insects in the garden can also be addressed by using pesticide sprays from time to time. While pesticide sprays are of immense utility in tackling insects, using the spray in the correct way is essential for maximum benefit.

Birds also often come up in the list of Garden Pests. While chasing away birds is an effective method of dealing with the issue, the method is hardly feasible for practical reasons. After all, you cannot chase all the birds all the time! A better alternative is to install a bird feeder in a strategic place in the garden. With birds eating at the feeders installed, there is no cause for worrying about them taking the trouble to feed on your garden. Pests in the garden can be of many and myriad kinds. Timely solution of the problem of pests is essential to maintain the health of the garden and your peace of mind.

Colorado Potato beetle control comes from mostly pesticides, to determine the pesticide to use when controlling beetles its good to know a bit about them. Mainly when dealing with potato beetles it is of the Colorado variety of potato beetle that will need to be controlled. The leptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado potato beetle) is about 1/8 inch in length and has alternating black and white stripes. Sometimes the potato beetle will look black and grayish but will have a yellow/orange body. A Colorado Potato beetle may also be referred to as a leaf beetle.

Potato beetle Larvae

The Colorado potato beetle larvae will look fat and reddish orange with two rows of black spots around the sides of the body. If the potato beetle larvae has one row of black spots then it is the false potato beetle also known as the Leptinotarsa juncta. The larvae of the Colorado potato beetle are around ½ inch when mature. The Colorado potato beetle larvae will eventually drop off the plants that they feed on and will bury into the ground to pupate. The pupa will last around seven days when it will eventually come out and resume eating.

Potato Beetle

To begin Colorado potato beetle control it is important to also know what the bugs eggs look like. Fortunately they are easy to pick out and notice because of their bright yellow to orange coloration and their eggs are usually in mass quantity. You will have to look at the underside of potato, tomato and pepper plants leaves to notice the eggs.

The Colorado potato beetle does not burrow into the actually potato or fruit of the plant but instead will feed on the leaves. The destruction of the leaves will then in turn prevent the potatoes from forming.

Potato beetles

Potato beetle control “how to”

To control Colorado potato beetles you need to check for damage or infestation if such damage or infestation is found you should promptly apply a diazinon, methoxychlor, Carbaryl or pyrethrins containing insecticide. Potato Beetle Control will more then likely require repeat applications as per directed on the insecticide. It is also good to note that your other plants such as tomatoes and peppers will need to be checked over for signs of infestation and damage as potato beetles will consume the leaves of these plants as well.

Colorado Potato beetle control in forms of insecticide may be harder to obtain for the home gardener because many of the insecticides are only sold in large quantities making them impractical and impossible to obtain unless you are a certified pesticide applicator. Most insecticides need to be applied during certain stages of Colorado potato beetle development. Some of the insecticides that are available to the home gardener are Colorado Potato Beetle Beater from bonide, Sevin and Pyrethrin spray. Sevin may not be effective for Colorado potato beetle control because of the beetle’s resistance to it. For home gardeners it is best to prevent the potato beetle from laying eggs in the first place, mechanical removal is always an option depending on the size of the home gardener’s crop. However large potato and vegetable farms will require constant potato beetle control.