1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Eggplant-Colorado potato beetle

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Image related to Eggplant-Colorado potato beetle
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Eggplant-Colorado potato beetle
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Eggplant-Colorado potato beetle
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say
Young immature showing damage on leaves
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Pest monitoring Potato beetle populations initially are aggregated but tend to disperse over time. Plants can withstand considerable defoliation without yield loss (up to 30% of their foliage). Generally, insecticides do not need to be applied unless there is more than an average of one beetle or larva per plant.

Management-biological control

Beneficial insects, such as predatory stink bugs and parasitic flies, and birds help to reduce Colorado potato beetle numbers somewhat, but they cannot be counted on to provide adequate control.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • acetamiprid
  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (usually as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • deltamethrin
  • esfenvalerate
  • gamma-cyhalothrin
  • imidacloprid
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • spinosad-Some formulations OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • abamectin (Agri-Mek SC, Epi-Mek) at 0.009 to 0.019 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/a per season.
  • acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.028 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season. Limit four applications per season.
  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.014 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/a per season.
  • Bacillus thuringiensis (Trident) at 0.12 to 1.5 lb/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Slow acting. May need multiple applications. Add an appropriate spreader-sticker to enhance control. Most effective on small larvae. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • beta-cyfluthrin (Baythroid XL) at 0.013 to 0.022 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.132 lb ai/a per season.
  • beta-cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 360) at 0.089 to 0.096 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.12 lb ai/a beta-cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade WSB) at 0.033 to 0.08 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per year. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin /avermectin (Athena) at 0.05 to 0.12 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.056 lb ai/a avermectin or 0.4 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season.
  • bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.08 to 0.15 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.2 lb ai/a bifenthrin. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a per season.
  • carbaryl (Sevin SL and XLR Plus) at 1 to 2 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 7 treatments per year. Do not exceed 8 lb ai/a per year.
  • chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/a via drip irrigation or as foliar. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days for foliar and 10 days for chemigation. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Limit 4 treatments.
  • chlorantraniliprole/lambda-cyhalothrin (Voliam Flexi) at 0.059 to 0.088 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed of 0.36 lb ai of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.175 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Minimum of 5 days between applications. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta 50SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Limit 3 treatments. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/a per year. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.025 to 0.044 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.263 lb ai/a per season.
  • deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.018 to 0.028 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.168 lb ai/a per season on fruiting vegetables.
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/a foliar or 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/a for soil. PHI 1 day foliar, or 21 days for soil. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a foliar or 0.532 lb ai/a soil per season.
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.03 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.35 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 0.14 to 0.18 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day foliar. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/a per season.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.01 to 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.18 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.25 to 0.38 lb ai/a soil and 0.047 to 0.079 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 0 days foliar; 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a foliar or 0.38 lb ai/a soil per season. Foliar retreatment interval 5 days.
  • imidacloprid (Provado, Prey) at 0.048 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a per season.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.02 to 0.03 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.36 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin/thiamethoxam (Endigo ZC) at 0.064 to 0.072 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.36 lb ai/a of lambda-cyhalothrin or 0.172 lb ai/a of thiamethoxam per season.
  • novaluron (Rimon 0.83EC) at 0.058 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.233 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • oxamyl (Vydate L) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 1 day. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 6 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • permethrin (Loveland Permethrin) at 0.15 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a per season.
  • spinetoram (Radiant SC) at 0.039 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 4 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a per season. Limit 6 treatments per year.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.047 to 0.094 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed three applications in any 21-day period. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per crop. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.031 to 0.047 lb ai/a. Apply high rates for heavy infestations. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/a soil treatment. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a per season.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.195 to 0.257 lb ai/a. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.257 lb ai/a of Durivo or 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam-containing products or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole-containing products per acre per growing season.
  • tolfenpyrad (Torac) at 0.14 to 0.21 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/a per year.
  • zeta-cypermethrin (Mustang) at 0.028 to 0.05 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season.

Pesticide resistance management The Colorado potato beetle is notorious for its ability to develop resistance rapidly to insecticides that are used repeatedly for control. To delay or prevent resistance, it is important to rotate the insecticides used. Commercial strains of Bacillus thuringiensis tenebrionis (Btt) are effective and can be used as part of a rotation. Manage Colorado potato beetle resistance field by field. While they may be resistant to one insecticide in a particular location, beetles in other areas within the same county may not have developed resistance to that insecticide.