Colorado Potato Beetle

Colorado Potato Beetle Life StagesColorado Potato Beetle Life Stages

Colorado Potato Beetle Larvae Feeding on FoliageColorado Potato Beetle Larvae Feeding on Foliage

Adult Colorado Potato Beetle and Feeding DamageAdult Colorado Potato Beetle and Feeding Damage

Colorado Potato Beetle Feeding DamageSevere Colorado Potato Beetle Feeding Damage

HOSTS

  • Eggplant
  • Pepper
  • Potato
  • Tomato

DESCRIPTION

Adults are about the same size and shape as a lady beetle but with yellow and black stripes. Bright yellow to orange oval-shaped eggs are laid in clusters of about 20-45 on the undersides of leaves. Larvae are reddish in color with a bulbous-shaped body and two rows of black spots along the sides

BIOLOGY

Egg | Larva | Pupa | Adult
Colorado potato beetles have 2-3 generations per season and are a concern late April through potato vine-kill. Overwinter as adults under plant debris and in the soil. Adults emerge in approximately May. Larvae begin to feed on leaves in June and prefer tops of plants. Begin scouting in mid-spring for feeding damage or the presence of adults, eggs, or larvae.  

SYMPTOMS

Adults and larvae feed with chewing mouthparts and can defoliate plants. Symptoms include notch wounds along the leaf margin, ragged injuries, and dark frass on foliage. Adults and larvae can cause great damage to potato foliage.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

  • Rotate crops to non-solanaceous crops
  • Keep crop area free of solanaceous weeds
  • Application of insecticides may be needed; resistance is common so rotate insecticide groups.

INSECTICIDES

Consider treatment when there is one adult or larva per plant early in the season or at tuber bulking/after flowering when there are an average of 1.5 large larvae or adults per plant. Click here to reference insecticide products.




















Precautionary Statement: Utah State University and its employees are not responsible for the use, misuse, or damage caused by application or misapplication of products or information mentioned in this document. All pesticides are labeled with ingredients, instructions, and risks, and not all are registered for edible crops. “Restricted use” pesticides may only be applied by a licensed applicator. The pesticide applicator is legally responsible for proper use. USU makes no endorsement of the products listed in this publication.