Colorado Potato Beetle
insectLeptinotarsa decemlineata
Distinctive striped beetle and its red larvae that defoliate potato family plants.
Identification
Adult: 3/8 inch oval beetle with 10 black stripes on yellow-orange wing covers. Larvae: red-orange humped grubs with black spots.
Damage & Symptoms
Defoliation of potato, eggplant, tomato, and pepper leaves. Complete defoliation can kill plants.
Organic Control
Hand-pick adults and crush egg masses. Bt var. tenebrionis. Spinosad. Neem oil on larvae. Straw mulch harbors predatory insects.
Chemical Control
Imidacloprid systemic at planting. Rotate chemicals as beetles develop resistance quickly.
Prevention
Crop rotation (minimum 3 years). Rotate away from previous Solanaceae beds. Trap cropping with early-planted eggplant.
Data confidence: medium | Source: curated_ipm