Insecticide For Colorado Potato Beetle

Colorado potato beetle (C.p.b.) is a serious pest of potato, tomato and eggplant crops in India. They attack the leaves: Killing Colorado potato beetle on vegetables and fruits is not an easy task. To get rid of these pests, you need to apply insecticides based on the developmental stage of the beetle. Early or late applied insecticide doesn’t affect the larvae and egg stage of the Colorado potato beetles significantly and hence, don’t give desirable results.

Insecticide For Colorado Potato Beetle

Treatment of Colorado potato beetles in home gardens can be challenging. Use a combination of different pest management tactics to reduce Colorado potato beetle numbers.

Keep your garden clean

When Colorado potato beetles first emerge in the spring, they will look for other hosts in the absence of potato plants.

Clean up weeds like nightshade and ground cherry near your garden, as these weeds can act as a possible food source.

Plant early maturing varieties

Plant an early maturing variety to escape much of the damage caused by adults emerging in midsummer.

• Check seed catalogs for varieties that mature in less than 80 days.
• Yields on early maturing varieties are not as large, and often these varieties do not store as well as the popular Russet Burbank potato.

Growing potatoes only every other year may help reduce beetle populations if:

• No potatoes are being grown within a radius of ¼ to ½ mile away, and
• Temperatures are not excessively warm.

Pick beetles off plants

Handpicking in small gardens can be effective.

• Drop adults and larvae in a pail filled with soapy water.
• Remove or crush the yellowish orange eggs on the underside of leaves.
• New adult beetles can fly into gardens so be sure to check your potatoes regularly.
• Handpicking may be less practical in larger gardens.

Natural enemies of Colorado potato beetles

There are a few natural enemies of Colorado potato beetles

• Stink bugs and lady beetles will prey upon Colorado potato beetle eggs.
• The fungus Beauveria bassiana will kill both larvae and adults.
• Unfortunately, natural enemies have little impact on overall Colorado potato beetle numbers.

Using pesticides

Colorado potato beetles are resistant to essentially all synthetic pesticides like carbaryl, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambda cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, permethrin, and pyrethrins. These products are unlikely to be effective and their use is not suggested.

Anytime you use a pesticide and it does not seem to kill Colorado potato beetles, switch to a different active ingredient.

Colorado potato beetles are not resistant to azadirachtin or spinosad. These products are also “soft” on natural enemies.

• Azadirachtin (Neem) – is derived from the Neem tree of Asia and Africa. It is effective for a couple of days and repeat applications are probably necessary.  Azadirachtin provides poorer management of large larvae and adults
• Spinosad – is  made from the soil bacterium, Saccharopolyspora spinosa. It is effective for about 10 – 14 days.

CAUTION: Mention of a pesticide or use of a pesticide label is for educational purposes only. Always follow the pesticide label directions attached to the pesticide container you are using. Remember, the label is the law.

Be sure that the vegetable you wish to treat is listed on the label of the pesticide you intend to use. Also be sure to observe the number of days between pesticide application and when you can harvest your crop.

Insecticide For Colorado Potato Beetle

The Colorado potato beetle is a destructive pest of potatoes and other plants in the family Solanaceae. This beetle is also called the “potato bug” or “pinto bug”. They are yellowish-orange with black stripes, and they are about 1/2 inch long. They can be found in most parts of the United States and Canada.

Colorado potato beetles are one of the most destructive pests to gardeners, farmers, and homeowners. These insects feed on plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). The adult beetles feed on leaves, stems, tubers, flowers and fruits. Their larvae burrow into tubers and destroy them by eating away at their insides.

Insecticides can be used to control these beetles as well as other pests that attack vegetable gardens. For example: Acephate (Orthene), Bifenthrin (Talstar), Diazinon (Spectracide Triazicide), Pyrethrins + Piperonyl Butoxide (Premise).

List Of Insecticide For Colorado Potato Beetle