Colorado beetles

[Anton]

I planted five long rows of new potatoes (three different types) starting from 29 March. They were doing quite well then of course the drought turned up. I saw one potato flower the other week but that was it. However, I read somewhere that even if they don't flower, just to wait until they start dying down and I might still get a decent harvest (I did have one black leg incident but after it was removed there was no repeat).
Anyhow, this evening was delightfully surprised to see quite a few ladybirds on one plant. I took a picture to show the wife but when I looked closer my suspicions were aroused. The dreaded Colarado beetle larvae. I looked on the Internet and saw the advice was to pick them off by hand and drop them in a bucket of soapy water. I did this. I also discovered two or three stripey looking beetles (which I initially thought were slugs, the adults) and they went in the bucket as well. On a few, but not many of the affected plants (about five) there were tiny clusters of bright yellow eggs, which I squashed.

As the plants have been in the ground nearly 10 weeks, I guess, is there any chance of being able to have a reasonable harvest? The insects destroy the leaves, not the potatoes, don't they. Do I have to handpick every single day? My tomatoes plants are right beside the potatoes

[robbra]

You need to contact deffra to report them as they can get a large colony very quickly. It'a a notifiable quarantine pest.. 03001000 313

[Anton]

I'm not in the UK

[Jungle Jane]

I was thinking it can’t be that but you’re not in the UK,I don’t know much about them,I saw online about spraying with vinegar water,when the suns gone down to kill the nymphs but I’d check every other day for new bugs that could fly in. Are there plants like marigolds that the bugs don’t like,to put with tomatoes & aubergines if you grow them?

[ameno]

Since we're a UK site, I don't think there's really any useful information we can give you that can't be found just by using google, I'm afraid.

[Nicos]

Well, it’s always good to be aware of what to look out for , even in the uk. It’s probably just a matter of time before it arrives in the UK

Anton…..could you pop your rough location in your signature? Even if it’s just the area of your country would help people realise that you will be experiencing different plants and pests and difficulties.
I noticed that here in France they are spreading so I’ve recently started looking out for them.

I had a bit of a goooogle and came up with this interesting site…
https://bonnieplants.com/blogs/garde...%20and%20tansy.

It suggests….( as well as other useful information)
” Repel them. Grow plants that repel Colorado potato beetles, like eucalyptus, catnip, marigold, nasturtium, coriander, onion, and tansy. “

[peacegarden2024]

a friend of mine in USA uses something call Spinosad for Colorado

potato beatles.

[Nicos]

Never heard of that …but here’s info on it….
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/spinosadgen.html

[Anton]

Thanks for all your answers. I'm just outside Brussels, Belgium. I didn't know the pests were absent from the UK. I have been growing potatoes on and off since the 1980s and never had this problem. Blight and blackleg yes.

[Anton]

Well, I tried eliminating them by picking the pests off by hand every day. They would be back the next day. Then my wife discovered a pesticide containing Spinosad up in the attic (she used it on some bushes last year) and it was recommended for potatoes (among other vegetables). It seems to have to done the trick. I hope the potatoes will continue bulking up despite this setback.

I share the garden with a lady and her husband and she seems to have gone on holiday (back to her home country), meanwhile her 20 rows of potatoes are infested with the beetles!

[Jungle Jane]

Is there any way of contacting her about it? Those beetles could travel from her potatoes to yours,maybe she’ll say you could take care of the beetles on her plants too? Could you cover yours with netting I don’t know? Are your tomato plants alright or are the beetles making holes in those leaves,

edit - sorry I just read that again,20 rows,that would be a lot of work taking care of that,that seems a lot,who waters them,do you ever see anyone there?

[Anton]

She and her husband work in the garden during the day (but not every day), while I generally go there in the evening, hence we hardly ever see each other. However, as soon as I spotted the pests, I left a note for her. Last year (my first year in this new garden), she went on holiday in August. Stupid I never asked for her telephone number, although she does have mine.

I think the pests will all die as soon as they start munching my leaves (the pesticide is absorbed by the leaves) and I am not supposed to harvest the potatoes for 21 days after treatment. I was wondering what the creatures will do after they have wolfed down all her potato leaves! I think I will dig up all my potatoes after the recommended 21 days (they are earlies). No sign of damage to my tomatoes. The beasts should be easier to spot on these plants and the pesticide can also be used for tomatoes. Fingers crossed.

No sign of any damage to my tomatoes. I think this

[rary]

If it is recommended to grow onions to repel them, I would try steeping onions or garlic in water then spraying the solution over the potatoes, don't know if it will work, but it definitely won't if you don't try