Colorado Potato Beetle

Common Name: Colorado Potato Beetle-Potato Bug

Genus: Leptinotarsa

Species: decemlineata

Identification: 3/8-inch long with alternate black and yellow stripes in the wing covers.

Lifecycle: The insects overwinter as the adults that bury themselves 8 to 10 inches in the soil. In the spring, they emerge to feed on volunteer or early potatoes. These adults are 3/8-inch long with alternate black and yellow stripes in the wing covers. Eggs are deposited on the underside of the leaves. Each female deposits 500 eggs before dying. Small humpbacked, reddish chewing larvae hatch in 4 to 9 days. They grow rapidly and become full grown in 2 or 3 weeks. They then descend into the soil, make a spherical cell and transform into a motionless pupae. Two generations appear to be the rule.

Geographic Distribution: Found throughout most of the United States and Canada.

Damage and Treatment: The insects tend to feed in groups, completely consuming the leaves. Unless controlled they soon devour so much of the vines that the plant dies and tuber yield is greatly reduced. Treatment should be made when insect populations and/or damage levels reach economic thresholds. Refer to local University Extension Pest Management Guidelines for specific state thresholds.

Fruits Nuts Trees and Vegetables

Potatoes

Soybeans

Alfalfa Weevil Hypera

Amaranthes Amaranthus palmeri, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus spinosus

Aphids Therioaphis maculata, Dysphis plantaginea, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Acyrthosiphon kondoi, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis gossypi

Armyworm, Beet Spodoptera

Barnyardgrass Echinochloa

Black Nightshade

Cabbage Looper Trichoplusia

Codling Moth Cydia

Common Cocklebur Xanthium

Crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis, Digitaria ischaemum, Digitaria ciliaris

Cupgrass Eriochloa gracilis, Eriochloa villosa

Cutworms Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis orthogonia, Peridroma saucia

Eastern Nightshade Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum saccachoides

European Corn Borer Ostrinia

Fall Armyworm Spodoptera

Foxtail Species Setaria venticillata, Setaria faberi, Setaria viridis, Setaria glauca

Goosegrass Eleusine

Grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes, Camnula pellacida

Green Peach Aphid Myzus

Jimsonweed Datura

Johnsongrass seedling Sorghum

Kochia Kochia

Lambsquarters Chenopodium

Leafminer Liriomyza trifolii, Liriomyza sativa, Liriomyza huidobrensis

Leafroller Archips rosanus, Archips argyrospila, Argyrotaenia velutinana, Choristorenra rosaceana

Lygus Bug Lygus

Nightshades Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum ptycanthum, Solanum saccachoides

Northern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica longicornus barberi, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera

Nutsedges Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus esculentus

Panicum, Fall Panicum

Panicum, Texas Panicum

Pear Psylla Cacopsylla

Pennsylvania Smartweed Polygonum

Pigweed, Redroot Amaranthus

Prickly Sida Sida

Ragweeds Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida

Sandbur, Field Cenchrus

Shattercane Sorghum

Sicklepod Cassia

Silverleaf Whitefly Bemisia tabaci, Bemisia argentifolii

Southern Corn Rootworm Diabrotica

Spider Mites Tetranychus urticae, Tetranychus turkestani, Tetranychus pacificus, Tetranychus cinnabarinus

Spotted Cucumber Beetle Diabrotica

Spurred Anoda Anoda

Stink Bug Nezara viridula, Chlorockroa say, Euschistus consperus

Sweet Potato Silverleaf Whitefly Bemisia tabaci, Bemisia argentifolii

Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus

Tobacco Budworm Helicoverpa

Velvetleaf Abutilon

Venice Mallow Hibiscus

Wild Mustard Brassica

Wild Sunflower Helianthus

Wireworms Melanotus fissilis, Limonius spp. Many species in the order Coleoptera, family Elatoridae.

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