![]() You even have the option to use microbial insecticides against L. Myiopharus doryphorae, a type of tachinid fly, parisitizes these pests as well. This wasp will lay its eggs in those of the beetles. Parasitic wasps are highly specialized for their hosts, and Edovum puttleri can help control your infestation. Green Lacewing eggs, larvae, and adults are available from ARBICO Organics This can confuse the beetles and delay infestation.įind more information on using trap crops here. You can also grow non-host crops like corn in the area. A Canadian test found that tomato yields increased by 61-87% using this approach. However, any host plant that they enjoy munching on will work as a trap crop, including other members of the Solanaceae family such as ground cherry, horse nettle, tomato, and buffalo-bur.Ĭommercial tomato growers have had great success using potato plants as trap crops. Potatoes are the most common trap crops used for L. ![]() This can delay their spread into your garden and give you a chance to go on the offensive. If you grow trap crops around the perimeter of your garden, the beetles will colonize the first host they see. decemlineata is to grow plants that attract these insects. Trap CropsĪnother way to protect your plants from L. Since these pests can overwinter in the soil, you could get an accidental infestation under the floating row cover if you are not careful. Use a specially designed lightweight floating row cover and thoroughly secure the material to the ground with soil or staples.Įnsure that you are not covering plants in an area where you grew them before. Instead, your best bet is to consider a combination of different types of organic control methods.įloating row covers can help protect your plants from insect infestations. This may not be the best strategy, since Colorado potato beetles are frequently resistant to pesticides. Your immediate reaction may be to reach for an insecticide. However, you will want to take action before these fiendish pests take over. Their most critical time is after flowering, when the tubers have begun to bulk up. Once you have identified these insect pests in your garden, don’t panic! Potato plants can lose up to 30% of their leaves and stems without any loss of yield. If conditions are not favorable, the adults may not emerge until spring.Ī single female can lay over 500 eggs over a 4 to 5-week period, and they can mature from larvae to adult beetles in 1.5-3 weeks, depending on the climate. When the larvae complete this phase of their life cycle, they drop to the ground and burrow several inches down before pupating.Īdult beetles emerge 5-10 days later, and start feeding and mating on their host plants. These hungry larvae are responsible for up to 75% of the damage to a crop. The larvae go through four growth stages ( instars), and the fourth instar larvae cause the most damage to food crops. ![]()
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