(Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
This insect pest, also known as the potato bug, often devastates potato, tomato, and pepper plantings. Both adults and larvae damage plants by devouring leaves and stems. Small plants are most severely damaged. The beetle was originally native to the Rocky Mountains, and spread eastward in the late 1800s as potato plantings increased. In some areas of the country, the beetle population may reach epidemic proportions. The beetles lay their yellow-orange eggs on the undersides of the leaves as the first potatoes emerge from the ground in the spring. The larvae that hatch from these eggs feed for 2 to 3 weeks, pupate in the soil, and emerge 1 to 2 weeks later as adults, which lay more eggs. One generation is completed in a month. There are 1 to 3 generations a year, depending on the area of the country.
Control Colorado potato beetles with an insecticide containing diazinon, pyrethrins, or carbaryl. Treat when the insects are first noticed, and repeat every 7 days as long as the infestation continues.
Plant Care for Potatoes