Sasha CampbellOnce 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 control, causing significant damage to potato crops [1]. The larvae eat a lot. They cause more crop damage than adult beetles do.
The estimated crop losses by some commercial and large-scale growers are tremendous. As a result, we will discuss how to get rid of potato bugs, their larvae, and eggs.
Identification
The Colorado potato beetle gets its name from its favorite plant, the potato.
An adult has a round, orange, and/or yellow body and ten alternating black-and-white stripes on its wing covers. These stripes give it the nicknames “ten-lined potato beetle” and “ten-striped spearman.”
How to Get Rid of Colorado Potato Beetles Naturally
Before heading for store-bought pesticides, try home remedies and organic approaches to control Colorado potato beetles.
1. Crop Rotation
Rotating seasonal crops is a simple way to get rid of potato bugs. Rotate your potatoes and other affected crops every three to four years.
2. Row Covers
These covers protect plants from certain pests. They prevent flying insect pests from landing on your plants and causing damage.
3. Repellent Plants
Using plants to deter pests is one of the best organic pest control methods.
Plants that repel Colorado potato beetles include tansy, coriander, marigolds, nasturtiums, and catnip. Use these as companion plants to help keep pests away.
4. Soap and Water
You can also use soapy water to kill potato bugs in the garden.
You only need two 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 onto the ground, pick them up, and drop them into the soapy water. This solution will suffocate and kill the critters.
5. Mulch
Mulching will help the plants grow. It may also attract insects that eat beetles.
Straw is one of the most popular and effective organic mulches, but others will work just as well.
6. Handpicking
Handpicking is an organic, cost-effective method for naturally killing potato bugs.
Put on gloves. Then, pick off the bugs. Check the undersides of the leaves. That’s 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
Besides using companion plants to deter the beetles, you can use 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
- Some parasitic wasps
- Damsel bugs
- Birds
Most of these natural predators will go after beetle eggs and the early larval stages.
9. Vinegar
The acidity of vinegar kills potato bugs and other harmful plant pests.
Therefore, use it to make a homemade potato bug killer spray.
Combine 1 cup of white vinegar, one teaspoon of liquid soap, and 3 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake well, then spray your plants to kill larvae 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 those leaves!
Once you see an adult beetle, start looking for eggs.
11. Diatomaceous Earth
This home remedy will kill all kinds of insects when they come into contact with it.
If applied correctly, diatomaceous earth (DE) will kill Colorado beetles and their larvae. It works by dehydrating them.
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 one part DE with four parts water.
Use this homemade diatomaceous earth spray on your plants. Also, spray it in crevices around your house. Use food-grade DE to eliminate potato bugs in the home.
However, ensure you wear a protective face mask when applying DE, even if it is food-grade.
12. Spinosad
One of the best organic insecticides for potato bugs is spinosad.
It paralyzes the nervous systems of larvae and 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 seeds. It is an excellent home remedy for organic potato beetle control.
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 insecticide spray by mixing 2 tablespoons of pure neem oil with 1 gallon of water. Add 2 tablespoons of liquid soap to the mixture, then spray it on the insects wherever you find them.
If sprayed directly, this natural Colorado potato bug spray will kill the bugs and their eggs.
Takeaway
All of the Colorado potato beetle control methods mentioned above are safe for use in organic agriculture. The majority of these natural remedies are as eco-friendly as you can ask for.
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