Foe!
You might mistake Colorado beetle eggs for our friend the Lady beetle, but this beetle is definitely a foe! The Colorado beetle lays her eggs on plants of the night-shade family potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, tomatillos. Her larvae are not interested in aphids but rather in gobbling up foliate!
WHAT TO DO? Be vigilent!
In May, look for eggs on the under-sides of leaves. Hand pick adult beetles, larvae and eggs and drop them into soapy water. Look for lady beetles – they also predate on potato beetle eggs and larvae. You might also cover the potato crop with a floating row cover as potatoes do not need to be pollinated.
Images: Beetle with eggs – Ada’mozphoto (Wiki Commons); Lavae – Tavo Romann (Wiki Commons)
Sources
Gilkinson, L. Natural Insect, Weed & Disease Control, 2013. www.lindagilkes
Mulvihill, S. The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook. www.susansinthegarden.com
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| COLORADO BEETLE_0.pdf | 249 KB |