Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook

Tomato-Colorado potato beetle

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Image related to Tomato-Colorado potato beetle
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say
Egg(s) on host
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Tomato-Colorado potato beetle
Colorado potato beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say
Adult
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Tomato-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 Colorado potato beetle populations initially are aggregated but tend to disperse over time. Plants can lose up to 30% of their foliage without yield loss. Generally, insecticides are not needed unless beetles or larvae average more than one 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
  • kaolin-Applied as a spray to foliage, it acts as a repellent to some insect pests. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin
  • permethrin
  • pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • abamectin (Agri-Mek SC) 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. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a or four treatments 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 (Javelin) at 0.12 to 1.5 lb/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Acts slowly; 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 0 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 0 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/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 0.2 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season.
  • bifenthrin/imidacloprid (Brigadier) at 0.06 to 0.15 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid and 0.4 lb ai/a bifenthrin. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not graze livestock in treated areas or cut for feed.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/a per season. Limit 4 treatments.
  • carbaryl (Sevin 4F) at 1 to 2 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 8 lb ai/a per season.
  • chlorantraniliprole (Coragen) at 0.045 to 0.098 lb ai/a as chemigation or foliar treatment. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 5 days for foliar and 10 days for chemigation.
  • chlorantraniliprole/lambda-cyhalothrin (Voliam Xpress) at 0.059 to 0.088 lb ai/a. PHI 5 days. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed or 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 0.172 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • cryolite (Kryocide) at 7.7 to 15.4 lb ai/a. PHI 14 days. REI 12 hr.
  • clothianidin (Belay) at 0.05 to 0.067 lb ai/a foliar, 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/a soil. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil.REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
  • cyclaniliprole (Harvanta SL) at 0.036 to 0.054 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.22 lb ai/a per year.
  • cyfluthrin (Tombstone) at 0.025 to 0.044 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.263 lb ai/a per season.
  • cyfluthrin/imidacloprid (Leverage 2.7) at 0.08 to 0.11 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.17 lb ai/a cyfluthrin or 0.24 lb ai/a imidacloprid per year.
  • cyromazine (Trigard) at 0.125 lb ai/a as a foliar spray. Minimum interval between treatments 7 days. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not apply more than 0.75 lb ai/a per season. Suppression only.
  • deltamethrin (Delta Gold) at 0.018 to 0.028 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 3 days. Do not exceed 0.168 lb ai/a per season.
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/a foliar and 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/a for soil. PHI 1 day (foliar), 21 days (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 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.5 lb ai/a per season. Do not feed or graze livestock on treated vines.
  • flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 0.14 to 0.18 lb ai/a PHI 1 day. 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. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.18 lb ai/a per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.25 to 0.38 lb ai/a soil or 0.047 to 0.079 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 21 days soil; 0 day foliar. Retreatment interval 5 days foliar. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.38 lb ai/a soil per application or 0.24 lb ai/a foliar per season.
  • imidacloprid (Provado, Prey) at 0.048 to 0.078 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not use more than 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. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.36 lb ai/a per season.
  • 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. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.23 lb ai/a per season.
  • oxamyl (Vydate L) at 0.5 to 1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 48 hr. Do not exceed 8 lb ai/a per season. Drip irrigation permitted.
  • permethrin (Ambush 25WP, Pounce 25WP) at 0.05 to 0.2 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a Pounce or 1.2 lb ai/a Ambush 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 season. Do not apply to seedling fruiting vegetables grown for transplant within a greenhouse, shade house, or field plot.
  • spinosad (Success, Entrust SC) at 0.047 to 0.094 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr. Do not exceed 0.45 lb ai/a per crop. Limit 6 treatments per season. Entrust SC is OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • thiamethoxam (Actara) at 0.031 to 0.047 lb ai/a. 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 applied. 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 applied to the soil. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed or 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole 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. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season.

Kaur, N. (Ed.). 2024 Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook.
© Oregon State University.

Use pesticides safely!

  • Wear protective clothing and safety devices as recommended on the label. Bathe or shower after each use.
  • Read the pesticide label—even if you’ve used the pesticide before. Follow closely the instructions on the label (and any other directions you have).
  • Be cautious when you apply pesticides. Know your legal responsibility as a pesticide applicator. You may be liable for injury or damage resulting from pesticide use.

Trade-name products and services are mentioned as illustrations only. This does not mean that the participating Extension Services endorse these products and services or that they intend to discriminate against products and services not mentioned.