Once you spot one Colorado potato beetle, there could be more hiding in your garden. These beetles are known simply as potato bugs.
They are a challenging pest to deal with, causing much damage to potato crops [1]. The larvae are voracious feeders, responsible for much more damage than the adult beetles.
The estimated loss of crops by some commercial and large-scale growers is tremendous. As a result, we’re going to talk about how to get rid of potato bugs and their larvae and eggs.
Identification
The Colorado potato beetle gets its name from its most-beloved plant, the potato, but it’s also known by other names.
An adult has a round, orange, and/or yellow body and ten alternating black and white stripes on its wing covers. These stripes are what give it the nicknames “ten-lined potato beetle” and “ten-striped spearman.”
The Colorado beetle has one to three generations per growing season. The female potato bug can lay up to 350 eggs in one month [2].
The larvae pass through four instars, getting bigger with each growth stage, and then pupate. Once they turn into adults, the cycle starts again when they begin to mate and lay eggs.
How to Get Rid of Colorado Potato Beetles Naturally
Before heading for store-bought pesticides, try some of these home remedies and organic approaches to repelling Colorado potato beetles.
1. Crop Rotation
Rotation of seasonal crops is a simple method you can use to get rid of potato bugs.
Due to the overwintering habits of the beetles, it’s best to move your potatoes and other affected crops somewhere else in the garden every season.
2. Row Covers
These covers are used to protect plants against attacks from certain pests. It prevents flying insect pests from landing on your plants to cause damage.
3. Repellent Plants
Using plants as a means of deterring pests is one of the best organic pest control methods out there.
Plants that repel Colorado potato beetles include tansy, coriander, marigolds, nasturtium, and catnip. Utilize these as companion plants to help keep away these pests.
4. Soap and Water
You can also use soapy water to kill potato bugs in the garden.
All you need is 2 tablespoons of liquid soap in a gallon of water. Some people use Dawn dish soap, but any liquid soap will do.
Next, shake off the beetles to the ground and then pick them up and drop them into the soapy water. This solution will suffocate and kill the critters.
5. Mulch
Mulching will not only help with the plant’s growth, but it may also help attract insects that feed on beetles. Straw is one of the most popular and effective types of organic mulches, but others will work just as well.
6. Handpicking
This is an organic and cost-effective method for killing potato bugs naturally.
Simply put on a pair of gloves and pick off the bugs, checking the underside of the leaves where they and their young ones like to hide.
Either squish them underfoot or throw them into a pail of soapy water.
7. Trap Crops
In addition to using companion plants to deter the beetles, there’s also the tactic of using plants to draw them away from your vegetable garden.
While potato bugs prefer potatoes, they will also eat several other plants. These include tomatoes, buffalo bur, peppers, and ground cherries.
The beetles will likely flock to these trap crops, sparing your garden.
8. Natural Predators
Some natural enemies can easily prevent Colorado beetles from attacking your potatoes.
Among the potato beetle predators are:
- Ladybugs
- Predatory stink bugs
- Green Lacewings
- Parasitic Wasps
- Damsel bugs (which eat eggs and nymphs)
- Birds
A little research will enlighten you as to which of these natural predators are native to or can be raised in your area. You can also research the best approach to entice them to your garden.
9. Vinegar
The acidity of vinegar will kill potato bugs and all kinds of bad plant pests.
Therefore, use it to make a homemade potato bug killer spray.
Just combine one cup of white vinegar, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and three cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake well and use it to spray your plants to kill nymphs and adults.
10. Destroy Eggs
These beetles lay their eggs underneath the leaves of their target plants. So, check every leaf for eggs, and then destroy that leaf!
Once you see an adult beetle, start looking for eggs.
11. Diatomaceous Earth
This home remedy will kill all kinds of insects when it comes into contact with them. If properly applied, diatomaceous earth (DE) will dehydrate and kill Colorado beetles and their larvae.
Just sprinkle it on your plants, targeting the areas where the beetles are likely to crawl.
You can also use DE to make a DIY spray for Colorado potato beetles. For this recipe, mix 1 part DE with 4 parts water.
Use this homemade diatomaceous earth spray on your plants and spray in crevices around your house. Use food-grade DE to get rid of potato bugs in the home.
However, make certain you wear a protective face mask when applying the DE, even if it is food-grade.
12. Spinosad
One of the best organic insecticides for potato bugs is spinosad. It works to paralyze the nervous systems of larvae as well as mature bugs. It eventually cripples and kills them.
However, this killer spray solution is also toxic to bees, so do not apply it to blooming plants.
13. Neem Oil
This oil is an extract from neem seed. It is a great organic potato beetle control home remedy.
Neem oil is also great for killing many other harmful insects organically.
You can use it as a store-bought concentrated solution. You can also make your own neem oil insecticidal spray by combining 2 tablespoons of pure neem oil with a gallon of water.
Add 2 tablespoons of liquid soap to the mixture and then spray it on the insects wherever you find them.
This natural Colorado potato bug spray will kill these bugs and their eggs if sprayed directly on them.
Takeaway
All of the control methods mentioned above are safe to be used around your family, pets, and in organic agriculture as a whole. The majority of these natural remedies are as eco-friendly as you can ask for.
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