Colorado beetle. Methods for controlling the Colorado potato beetle

Description

The Colorado potato beetle is known to almost all gardeners who grew potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and other types of nightshades on their plots. The insect received this name in honor of the state of Colorado, where it was first discovered as a species in the early 18th century. It was brought to us along with potatoes, but it did not immediately manage to reproduce. Only after the 40s did the massive spread of the Colorado potato beetle begin in Europe and Russia.

The survivability of the Colorado potato beetle is amazing. Summer residents make every effort to destroy it, but the next year, the insect again eats the planted crops. Difficulties in fighting the beetle arise due to the following reasons:

The beetle is very prolific and reproduces at an amazing rate. Over the summer, the female Colorado potato beetle lays up to 1000 larvae, of which up to 700 adults survive.
The beetle has suitable living conditions, because on the territory of Europe nothing threatens it except humans, i.e. there are no natural enemies.
It tolerates cold well, as it burrows deep into the soil during winter hibernation. This also protects it from all sorts of drugs that gardeners use to water the soil.
It has endurance and the ability to make long flights, making it very difficult to remove it.
When flying, it can move from city to city, and even from country to country.

Preventive measures

It is better to prevent the appearance of the Colorado potato beetle in potato beds than to deal with the consequences later. Effective prevention is a whole range of measures. It begins at the stage of preparing planting material.

The tubers are sprayed with a solution of special preparations. It is prepared according to the instructions, first applied to one side and allowed to dry. Then the potatoes are turned over and the operation is repeated. The resulting “film” protects them. The beneficial effect applies only to planting tubers, but not to the future harvest :

Prestige. Provides protection against insects (Colorado beetle, aphids, mole crickets, wireworms, May beetle larvae, cutworm caterpillars) and fungal diseases (late blight, rhizoctonia) for 35–40 days. Additionally, it makes the tubers more resistant to low temperatures and drought. Spray them about a week before planting.
Taboo. Protects against wireworms and Colorado potato beetles. Can be used in conjunction with fungicides (preparations against fungal diseases). Valid for approximately 1.5 months. To extend this period as much as possible, the tubers are sprayed directly in the holes.

The solution of Prestige and Tabu preparations is painted in a bright color - this makes it easier to control whether all tubers have been treated

Video: dressing potato tubers with solutions of Prestige and Tabu preparations

When planting, add pine needles or fresh sawdust to the holes. Their smell repels the Colorado potato beetle. You can also dust the potatoes with wood ash. Plants whose odor is unpleasant to the pest are planted between the rows and along the perimeter of the bed. During the period of mass “awakening” of beetles after winter, the bed is mulched. The last preventative measure is hilling. It is carried out when females begin to lay eggs en masse and when the larvae move into the soil to pupate.

A little pine needles poured into holes when planting potatoes will help repel the Colorado potato beetle, but keep in mind that if abused, it acidifies the soil

After harvesting, it is advisable to dig up the area before the first frost. The beetles overwinter in the soil at a depth of approximately 30–50 cm. If adults and larvae end up on the surface, they will not survive the winter.

Autumn digging of beds helps get rid of larvae and adults of many pests

External signs

It is very easy to distinguish the Colorado potato beetle from others, as it has a characteristic striped color. Looks very noticeable on the sheets. The strongly convex, rounded body is covered with hard elytra with five black stripes on each. The large beetle reaches 8-12 mm in length.

The photo shows an adult Colorado potato beetle

Colorado beetle

The larva looks bright and is difficult not to notice. They are somewhat larger and reach up to 14-16 mm. They have a black head and a reddish body with dots on the sides. This color is obtained due to the accumulation of carotene in the body.

In the photo there is a larva

The photo shows a clutch of Colorado potato beetle eggs.

The fertility of the female depends on the climate and territorial location. Southern countries are more susceptible to attacks by these insects, since a female can breed 2-3 generations during a season. The larvae hatch from the eggs after 10-20 days.

Landing protection

How to get rid of the Colorado potato beetle? The following can help with this issue:

biological agents;
chemical poisons;
folk recipes;
natural enemies of the Colorado potato beetle.

And now about each in more detail...

Biological agents

Biological preparations for protection against the Colorado potato beetle are good because they are absolutely safe for all warm-blooded animals and are not capable of harming nature. As a result, the agronomist receives an environmentally friendly product, after cultivation of which the air and soil remain just as clean. Among the biological agents it is worth highlighting the following:

"Bitoxibacillin";
"Fitoverm";
"Agravertine".

When working with such tools, you must remember the following rules:

a working solution should be prepared from the concentrate according to the instructions;
the treatment is carried out 2-3 times, since despite the high effectiveness against adults and larvae, such preparations do not destroy eggs;
the crop is sprayed in calm, dry weather in the afternoon so that the dew has time to dry; the air temperature should not be less than +18°C.

Chemical poisons

When considering ways to combat the Colorado potato beetle, it is impossible to ignore chemical agents. Such substances, as a rule, are toxic to humans and animals, and therefore, when using them, you should wear protective equipment for the skin of your hands, mucous membranes and respiratory organs and work strictly according to the instructions.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to allow the use of pesticides that do not come with clear instructions. At the same time, it should contain information about the exact dosage of the drug, the rules for its use, as well as precautions and recommendations for eliminating poisoning caused by this drug!

Among insecticides, the following deserve the attention of agronomists:

"Aktara";
"Confidor";
"Bankol";
"Regent";
"Mospilan";
"Sonnet";
"Corado."

Chemical poisons from the Colorado potato beetle are used as follows:

prepare the working solution according to the instructions, without exceeding the specified dosage. If this condition is violated, harmful substances will accumulate in the tubers and soil;
the beds are treated using a balloon sprayer;
spray the plantings in the cool morning or evening;
To avoid resistance in the Colorado potato beetle, the insecticide must be alternated with chemicals of another class.

Important! Chemical insecticides should not be used on a hot day, as there is a high probability of poisoning from dangerous fumes!

Methods of combating using chemistry

Good protection against the Colorado potato beetle should be effective and at the same time harmless to humans and the environment. The best option for treating potato plantations against pests is the use of biological preparations. They are absolutely safe for the soil and only harm Colorado potato beetles. The active components of such compositions do not poison water, the atmosphere or young potato tubers.

There are many ways to combat the Colorado leaf beetle using chemicals. The best of them will be discussed later in the article.

Method No. 1

Potato plantations are sprayed with a solution of Bitoxibacillin. This is a drug for the Colorado potato beetle in the form of tablets, which is recommended to be used no more than 4 times during the summer. The best option is 2-3 treatments once every 10 days.

It is advisable to spray potatoes using Bitoxibacillin at a temperature of 18°C or higher. To prepare the solution, take 40-100 g of the drug and dissolve it in water (10 liters). The main destructive effect of the prepared product is on the larvae. Due to paralysis, they cannot eat and become lethargic. The bacterial spores of the poisonous drug penetrate into the intestines of the larvae and develop rapidly there. After a short time, they take on the appearance of a shell filled with spores of a chemical drug. Such larvae subsequently produce beetles with deformities that pose a danger to healthy individuals, causing an epidemic. Beetles emerging from larvae poisoned by bitoxybacillin lose their ability to reproduce.

Method number 2

The biological product Colorado will help destroy the potato leaf beetle. The destructive effect of this product is directed against potato pests. They treat green potato bushes 1-2 times with an interval of 5-7 days. The drug should be used when new generations of Colorado potato beetle larvae appear. A solution from Colorado is prepared in the following dosage: 130-160 g of the drug is dissolved in a bucket of water.

Method number 3

The insecticide Bicol will help remove new Colorado potato beetle larvae from potato tops. Spraying with its use is carried out 2-3 times, taking a break of 7-8 days. Bicol dosage for 1 bucket of clean water – 20 g.

Method number 4

Use of the drug Fitoverm, which belongs to a new generation of insecticides and has a bioactive effect. The active components of Fitoverm penetrate into the body of adult beetles and beetle larvae by contact. When they enter the intestines, paralysis of the insect occurs. This usually happens 8-10 hours after processing the potato plantations. Beetles and larvae do not receive the necessary nutrition and die within 3-6 days.

It should be noted that the components of Fitoverm do not help cope with pest egg laying. Therefore, repeated spraying will be required after the larvae hatch from the eggs. The treatment, according to the instructions for the drug, must be carried out in clear weather, when the dew has dried on the leaves of the plant. The air temperature should not be lower than 18°C.

Method number 5

Application of the insecticidal agent Agravertin. The principle of operation of Agravertin is the same as that of Fitoverm. The active components of the drug provoke the development of paralysis in adult beetles and larvae. Lack of nutrition leads to the death of insect pests. The only difference is that Agravertine can be sprayed at a reduced air temperature of 12°C.

Method number 6

The drug Boverin will help effectively fight potato leaf beetle larvae. It is diluted in a bucket of water in an amount of 100-200 g. To treat 100 sq.m. potato plantings, you will need about 4 liters of this solution. New generations of larvae should be destroyed with Boverin 2 times, after a period of 10-12 days.

Method number 7

Effective destruction of the Colorado potato beetle occurs using potent chemical compounds. On the market for insecticidal drugs, customers are offered a wide range of such drugs. These include:

Aktara;
Bankol;
Sonnet;
Corado;
Senpai;
Regent;
Confidor;
Mospilan.

Green potato tops should be treated with them in the morning or evening, before 10 or after 18 o'clock, when the weather outside is warm, clear and windless. There should be no dew on the plants. Working with chemicals requires protection on your hands, face and eyes. The clothes in which the spraying was carried out must be washed well, and the shoes must be washed.

Dilution of chemical preparations for the Colorado potato beetle is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations indicated in the instructions. The effectiveness of the treatment will not depend on an increase in the concentration of the product or its consumption per unit area. Such actions will cause the accumulation of toxic chemical components in the tubers of young potatoes. The preparations need to be changed periodically so that the beetle does not get used to them.

Aktara

An effective drug for the Colorado potato beetle, chosen by vegetable growers. Has an intestinal contact effect. After processing the plantings, the active ingredients penetrate into all above-ground parts of the plant in 1-3 days. When eaten, toxic substances enter the stomach, poisoning the body.

To obtain homogeneity, first dilute 1.2 ml of Aktara in 200 ml of water. Then the resulting composition is added to 10 liters of water and shaken well. The solution is sprayed evenly over the leaves. Per 100 sq. m. 5 liters of the drug is enough.

Aktara's solution is resistant to high temperatures and direct sunlight. When treating leaves, the protection period is 2-3 weeks, when spraying the soil - 1.5 months. It has excellent compatibility with other insecticides and growth stimulants. Cannot be used in conjunction with alkaline compounds.

Iskra Golden

One of the best poisons for the Colorado potato beetle, which has a systemic effect. Shows excellent performance in pest control. The main active ingredient is imidacloprid. Sold in ampoules of 5 ml, bottles of 10 ml and packs of 40 g.

After treatment, the active ingredients penetrate into the green parts of the plant. The duration of protection is about 25 days and is not washed off by rain or artificial irrigation. The death of larvae and beetles occurs 1-2 days after spraying.

Commander

The highly effective insecticide Komandor is presented as a soluble concentrate. Effective for controlling the Colorado potato beetle even with severely damaged bushes. The main active ingredient is imidiacloprid,

Initially, the ampoule (1 ml) is diluted in 1-2 liters of water, then the solution is brought to 5 liters with water. The treatment is carried out using a sprayer, the composition is evenly distributed over the foliage. 5 liters of product is enough to treat 100 square meters. m.

You can poison the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes in any weather. Commander is not addictive to insects and does not pose a danger to humans, animals and plants. It is allowed to carry out treatments at any stage of development of potato plantings.

Note! One treatment per season is enough. It is carried out no later than 3 weeks before harvest.

Corado

Another product based on imidiacloprid, which has a systemic effect. 1-1.5 hours after entering the insect’s body, it makes the insect’s feeding process impossible. After a few days, the pests die.

It has little resistance to moisture, so it is recommended to carry out processing in windless, dry weather. It is best to process plantings in the evening or in the morning. At least 4 hours must pass after spraying before the rain begins.

Sold in 10 ml bottles and 1 or 5 ml ampoules. 1 ml of Corado is diluted in 10 liters of water. This volume is enough to spray 100 square meters. m. Corado remedy is valid for a month.

Prestige

One of the best systemic remedies for the Colorado potato beetle. The main active components are imidiacloprid (protects against various insects) and pencicuron (prevents fungal diseases, in particular rhizoctorosis, late blight). The protection is valid for 1.5 months.

Used for pre-planting treatment of potato tubers (consumption per kilogram of potatoes requires 1 ml of product). The working composition is painted pink, after drying a thin film is formed. The potatoes are laid out on a tarpaulin, sprayed, then the tubers are turned over and processed on the other side.

Since the product penetrates the stem and leaves during plant growth, insects eat it along with the green mass and die. They do not have time to lay larvae. Belongs to the third class of danger.

Additionally, treatment with Prestige stimulates crop growth and enhances anti-stress endurance. After the expiration date, the product decomposes into components that do not pose a danger to the environment and humans.

Taboo

An effective systemic product for controlling various pests of garden crops, which is used to treat tubers before planting. The main active ingredient is imidiacloprid.

When dry, the sticky surfactants in the composition form a film on the surface of the tubers.

The second way to use the Tabu insecticide is to treat the soil in rows and holes with already decomposed potatoes. For spraying, before planting, dilute 8 ml of the drug in 1 liter of water. When spraying green mass, dilute 4 ml of product per 10 liters of water. The duration of action of the insecticide is approximately 1.5 m.

Note! If the tubers have sprouts, they can be easily damaged. Therefore, spraying of planting material is carried out directly in the holes.

Tanrek

An excellent poison for the Colorado potato beetle. The active ingredient (imidacloprid) causes paralysis followed by death of the insect. After treatment, the insecticide permeates all green parts of the plant and remains in them for a month.

The drug does not pose any danger to humans, beneficial insects and animals if safety rules are observed. Equally effective at different temperatures.

Regent

A modern effective remedy for the Colorado potato beetle, which kills on the spot. It has a fast, prolonged effect. The main active ingredient is fipronil, which belongs to the class of phenylpyrazoles. It works well at different temperatures, destroys the pest in various phases of development, even if it has developed immunity to other toxic substances.

The regent is sold in 0.5 g bags. The contents are diluted in 20 liters of water and distributed over the foliage of plants using a sprayer. 20 liters of product is enough to treat 200 square meters. m. landing. During the season, 2 treatments may be required. The protection period is 2-3 weeks after spraying.

Folk recipes

You can use folk remedies for the Colorado potato beetle. Such drugs are practically safe for humans, affordable and quick to prepare. Let's look at some of them:

an effective solution is prepared based on birch tar - 100 g of tar must be mixed in 10 liters of water, and then sprayed on the plantings;
Ash also shows high efficiency, two glasses of which should be boiled in a liter of water for a quarter of an hour, left for two days, after which 45 g of laundry soap should be added to the solution and used for spraying;
Herbal decoctions and infusions will help fight the Colorado potato beetle; they can be prepared using onion peels, elecampane, horsetail, celandine, dandelion and wormwood - about 200 g per bucket of water.

Treatment with herbal decoctions is carried out in the morning or evening once every seven days. Three weeks before harvest, spraying is stopped.

Manual collection

Clutches of pest eggs are located on the lower part of the leaves. During this period, insects are vulnerable, so manual collection will help achieve a significant reduction in the number of insects. Farmers inspect the tops of plants immediately after seedlings appear. The yellow clumps are crushed, burned, or the torn plates are placed in jars with brine or kerosene.

Treatment with infusions and herbs

An emulsion of laundry soap and ash will help in the early stages, before the mass appearance of larvae. The block is crushed, dissolved in a bucket of water and 2 liters of wood raw materials are added. The product is left for a day, then the young potato greens are carefully processed.

An infusion of onion peels is used to combat not only Colorado potato beetles, but also other pests. A ten-liter pan is filled halfway with scales, pressed down with a weight, and poured with boiling water. After 3 days, the insecticide is filtered through cheesecloth and diluted with clean water in a ratio of 1:2. The above-ground parts are sprayed with the solution, and the remaining product is buried in the soil in the beds.

Wormwood is used to combat Colorado potato beetles and repel harmful insects. For 7 liters of hot water, take 200 g of fresh or dried plant, add a glass of crushed wood ash. Leave for 4 hours, strain and pour into a spray bottle. Spraying is carried out every 15 days, stopping procedures 3 weeks before harvest.

A decoction of celandine is a natural insecticide, a high concentration of which will help destroy parasites. Half a bucket of fresh plant is poured with cold liquid and boiled for 15 minutes. Take 500 ml of product per 10 liters of water and treat green plantings.

Colorado beetles do not like mixtures of fresh tomato and eggplant tops. To prepare the solution, take 1 kg of crushed grass, add a bucket of warm water and leave for 5 hours. Before use, strain and add detergent.

Tobacco infusion is also used against the Colorado potato beetle. A high concentration of nicotine can poison pests without the use of chemicals. To prepare the product, pour 500 g of crushed leaves or plant dust into a bucket of water and leave for 48 hours. The resulting liquid is filtered, diluted in a concentration of 1:1, and sprayed on potato plantings.

Tobacco is a poisonous plant. It is dangerous not only for insects, but also for warm-blooded animals.

The larvae of Colorado beetles do not like the infusion of hot pepper. Pour 100 g of crushed spice into 10 liters of moisture, boil for 2 hours and add any detergent. The medicine is used 4 days after preparation. Spraying is carried out every 2 weeks or after rain.

The smell of crushed garlic repels insects, so the plant is used to combat parasites. 200 g of raw materials (arrows, cloves, leaves) are placed in a bucket of water and left to infuse for a day. Before spraying, the emulsion is filtered; To improve adhesion, pour in 40 ml of liquid soap.

Traps and bait

It is important to protect large areas of potatoes from pests. Of the many ways to combat the Colorado potato beetle, gardeners prefer special trapping devices. A ditch with steep walls is dug along the perimeter of the beds, having the following parameters:

width – 50 cm;
depth – 30 cm;
slope – 45 °C.

The bottom of the trap is lined with dark polyethylene, the material is pressed tightly against all surfaces, holes are made every 2 m. The soil from the pit is laid along the edges in the form of additional mounds. Due to the abundance of moisture, a fungus that is dangerous for parasites develops under the film.

The principle of operation of the device is that in the spring the Colorado potato beetle does not fly yet. The insect, weakened by hibernation, moves by crawling. Once in a ditch, the pest cannot get out. The parasite is left to starve or die from a destructive fungus. At the beginning of the growing season, the device neutralizes up to 75% of the livestock.

Spot baits are suitable for small vegetable gardens in the spring and fall after harvest. The tubers are soaked in chlorophos for 24 hours. A week before sprouting, cut potatoes are scattered around the area. Colorado beetles, exhausted by wintering, eat the poisoned tubers and die within a few hours.

Plastic containers are used to prepare simple traps. The top part of the bottles is cut off and filled with bait from potato slices pickled with urea or peeled. The infusion is prepared from 100 g of urea and 1 liter of water; ground red pepper is added for effectiveness. The structure is placed on the bed at soil level, and the caught insects are destroyed. One building is designed for 5 square meters. m plot.

Insecticidal plants

Special herbs will help protect potato plantings from massive infestation by parasites. Insects are repelled by the aroma of certain crops, so they do not colonize areas with insecticidal plants. For this purpose, plant between the beds:

spices – dill, coriander, onion, borage;
flowers – night violet, marigolds, nasturtium;
medicinal species - calendula, tansy.

Beans, beans and horseradish are planted along the perimeter of the potato plot and in the inter-row spaces. Leaf beetles are repelled by white nymph and catnip. Plants will not save you from a large number of Colorado potato beetles, but will make their stay in the garden uncomfortable.

Some individuals are not afraid of natural insecticides; they will have to be collected manually or other measures must be used.

Dry methods

Dusting potato plantings will help not only repel, but also destroy voracious parasites. Gardeners use special mixtures that give an insecticidal effect. Birch wood ash is poisonous to Colorado potato beetles. When planting tubers, 100 g of the substance is placed in each hole, and after sprouting, sprinkle with greens. The procedure is carried out in the morning dew, material consumption per hundred square meters is 10 kg.

Corn flour, cement and gypsum, when exposed to a humid environment, increase in volume, destroying the parasite that eats them. When dusting foliage, the product enters the digestive system of insects. To improve the insecticidal effect, farmers mix the material with birch ash.

Colorado beetles cannot tolerate the smell of pine needles, so sawdust and wood chips are used to protect against invasion by scattering the raw materials between the rows. Even if the parasite does not die, it bypasses the beds with cultivated plants.

Who eats the Colorado potato beetle?

Ladybugs (cochinellas) and lacewings feed on the larvae of the striped leaf beetle. But there is no point in breeding lacewings in an area to kill beetles, because they will do more harm than good. Gardeners are encouraged to raise poultry, certain species of which not only rid the garden of adult beetles, but are also valued for their nutritious meat. This:

regular chickens;
turkeys;
domestic guinea fowl;
pheasants and partridges.

Summer residents accustom the chicks to unusual food in advance, and then walk the adults on the plots. It is important not to leave the bird unattended in order to protect the potato bushes from damage and not to treat the plantings with chemicals.

It is also useful to know which wildlife species are feeding on the Colorado potato beetle in your garden plots. These include starlings, crows, cuckoos and hoopoes.

Methods for controlling the Colorado potato beetle

Despite the fact that it is quite difficult to fight the beetle, it is still possible. With the help of pesticides, the fight is easier, but there are negative aspects of their use:

processed vegetables accumulate nitrates;
The pest develops immunity to constantly used agents.

Folk remedies are also effective, but do not work the first time, so it is advisable to repeat the treatment procedures after some time. But the advantage of folk methods is their safety for vegetables and, accordingly, for humans.

How to get rid of the Colorado potato beetle on nightshades

Colorado potato beetle on potatoes

In early spring, as soon as the soil warms up, on a cloudy day, potato cuttings, which had previously lain for a day in a chloroform solution, are scattered around the area. After a few days, the dead beetles that have accumulated on the potato pieces are collected. This way, by the time you need to plant potatoes, you will already have cleared the area of a certain number of beetles. This procedure must be repeated a week before emergence and in the fall, when the potato crop is harvested, but the beetles have not yet left for the winter.

The Colorado potato beetle cannot tolerate the smell of rotting onion peels, so when planting potatoes, they are placed in each hole along with a handful of ash - the beetle will not appear on such bushes until the end of flowering, and after flowering it will no longer be able to cause much harm to the potatoes.

A good way to protect potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle is to mulch the rows with straw, which not only suppresses weeds, but also allows you to retain moisture in the soil longer, protects potato tubers from the sun and creates a fertile habitat for certain species of spiders and insects that also eat the Colorado potato beetle - ground beetles. , ladybugs and praying mantises.

Effective protection against the Colorado potato beetle are some plants that are recommended to be planted between rows of potatoes and along the perimeter of the site - sage, tansy, catnip, marigold, calendula, hemp, coriander, nasturtium and matthiola. The Colorado potato beetle will not fly or crawl into such an area. However, these plants should not be allowed to drop their seeds on the ground, so the flowers should be mowed or cut off as soon as they open.

Unusual protection of cabbage from whites without chemicals

As for chemical means of control, we have described the best preparations for this. Recently, a new French remedy called “NO Colorado Beetle” has gained popularity, safe for both people and animals. The drug contains Indian azadirachta oil. To protect the site, three treatments are required per season: the first time, the holes are treated with an aqueous solution of the drug in a ratio of 1:40 when planting tubers, the second time the potatoes are sprayed during the period of mass emergence of seedlings, and the third treatment is carried out two weeks after the second.

As for the drug Prestige against the Colorado potato beetle, the use of this insecticide for treating tubers before planting does not save potatoes from the second wave of the Colorado potato beetle. This means that you will have to use a different preparation to treat the tops.

Processing potatoes before planting - how and with what

The often recommended drug Bankol does a good job of killing the beetle, but suppresses the reproductive function of potatoes, and after treatment with this product you may be left without planting material the next year.

Colorado potato beetle on eggplant

An effective way to combat the Colorado potato beetle are traps: in early spring, as soon as the soil warms up, place piles of potato peelings or potato pieces in different places in the area, and as soon as pests accumulate in them, pour gasoline over them and set them on fire. To avoid having to burn the beetles, you can moisten the cleaning with chlorophos, but if you have already used it more than once before, it will not have any effect.

When ovaries appear on eggplant seedlings, pesticides cannot be used to combat the beetle, so all that remains is to hide the bushes from the pest. To do this, you will need plastic drink bottles - their bottom and neck are cut off, and then put on the plants like covers. At this time, the beetles are lazy, do not want to fly, and crawl to the leaves along the stem, which, if it is protected by plastic, will be impossible to get close to.

You can try another way: fence off the eggplant bed with a fence made of plastic film 50 cm high, and since female Colorado potato beetles hardly fly, and males do not fly where there are no females, your bed will be protected for some time.

Growing eggplants - planting and caring for the garden

A mosquito net saves eggplants from beetles, from which caps are made for each bush using a stapler - the net allows light, air and moisture to pass through, but not beetles. The lower edge of the cap is sprinkled with earth.

Another way to scare the Colorado potato beetle away from eggplants is to fill the area with mowed forbs almost to the height of the bushes. The unusual smell will repel beetles from eggplants.

Plant plants that repel the Colorado potato beetle with their scent between the rows of eggplants and along the perimeter of the bed.

If Colorado beetles do appear on eggplants, use folk remedies to destroy them or collect the beetles by hand - chemicals are too toxic.

Colorado potato beetle on pepper

The Colorado potato beetle does not appear on sweet pepper bushes as often as on potatoes, but do not underestimate the danger of its appearance: under favorable conditions for the pest, it can destroy the entire crop. In early spring, place traps made of potato tops or potato pieces around the area and destroy the insects that collect in them. Inspect the emerging seedlings daily and, if you find beetles, collect them in a jar with a concentrated saline solution - the mechanical method of removing beetles is the most labor-intensive, but also the safest.

To treat peppers, use infusions and decoctions of wormwood, hot pepper, tomato tops, walnuts and other folk remedies to combat the Colorado potato beetle.

Planting and caring for peppers - growing in the garden

Colorado potato beetle on tomatoes

The Colorado potato beetle is the main insect threat to tomatoes. You need to start protecting tomatoes from this pest in the fall by deep digging up the area allocated for this crop. In the spring, before planting seedlings, bait from potato peelings or chopped tubers is laid out throughout the area in order to collect as many beetles as possible on them.

Planted tomato seedlings can be protected with cylinders made from cut plastic bottles. You can lay gutters along the perimeter of the site with slopes at an angle of 45º - this is a trap for young beetles.

Leaf roller: how to fight, remedies and preparations

Growing tomatoes - planting and care in open ground

Colorado beetles accumulate toxic alkaloids, which are contained in the leaves and shoots of nightshade plants, so they are inedible for many birds and predatory insects. Only turkeys and guinea fowl eat adult beetles, but they need to be accustomed to this delicacy from childhood by adding a little crushed beetles to their food.

The main way to combat Colorado potato beetles is their mechanical collection and subsequent destruction, since the use of chemicals is undesirable, moreover, the beetle is highly resistant to insecticides and quickly develops immunity to them, and treatments with folk remedies in case of a large concentration of pests may not give the expected results. If you apply the methods of combating the Colorado potato beetle in combination, you will have a real chance of winning this battle.

Chemicals and methods of their use

There are many effective means of combating the Colorado potato beetle and its larvae. All are easy to use and if you follow the instructions, you can protect your area. Treatment is carried out in the spring, when adult individuals have emerged from the soil. You should focus on the lilac blooming and after a week you can start processing the area. Approximately, the treatment is repeated after a month, but it is advisable to follow the instructions.

In order to protect your crops from the accumulation of undesirable substances in them, you should stop processing one month before harvest. Early varieties are sprayed when the first clutches of eggs appear, middle and late varieties are sprayed when beetles appear in large numbers. All work is carried out in the evening in dry, windless weather, so that the drug is not washed off or blown off the leaves.

"Commander". A detailed description of the use of the drug is in the instructions. But, as a rule, use 2 ml per 5 liters of water. After 20 days, the treatment with “Commander” must be repeated.

"Beetle eater." The drug is provided and is one of the most effective for combating the Colorado potato beetle. “Beetle eater” is diluted in a proportion of 1.5 ml per 3 liters of water. This is enough to process 100 sq.m. Spraying will need to be repeated after 20 days.

"Taboo". Used in many ways. The first method is to treat the planting potato tubers. When diluted, the solution turns out to be colored, so when processing the tubers, the missing part is visible. After drying, a film remains on the tuber, which holds well and does not crumble. The second method is to spray the furrows. The sprout absorbs active substances and accumulates them in itself, and the pest, eating such potatoes, loses motor activity and dies within a day. The drug Tabu is valid for 45 days.

"Tanrek". Used in the fight against adult beetles and larvae. A special feature of the drug "Tanrek" is to provide long-term protection regardless of weather conditions. Also, the insect pest is not able to adapt to the active ingredients of this drug. You need to dilute 1 ml of liquid per 5 liters of water, but first the drug is diluted in 1 liter, and then added to the rest of the amount. "Tanrek" is valid for 3 weeks.

"Prestige". A highly effective drug against a number of insects and potato diseases. Has low toxicity. Protects against the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm, mole cricket, cicadas, thrips, flea beetles, etc. Treatment with “Prestige” is carried out both on planting material and on the root system of pepper, eggplant and tomato seedlings. Dilute 100 ml per 2 liters of water. This is enough to process up to 100 kg of tubers.

"Corado." The insecticide is used against parasitic insects, including the Colorado potato beetle. "Corado" is sold in ampoules of 1 ml and 5 ml. The solution should be prepared at the rate of 1 ml of the drug per 1 hundred square meters. To combat the Colorado potato beetle, dilute 1 ampoule per 5 liters of water. The product is weather-resistant and protects plants for a long time. However, it is dangerous for bees.

"Regent". The drug is a soil-based product and is supplied in Germany against many types of pests. Apply once before planting at a dose of 5 kg per 1 ha. This is enough to protect the harvest.

"Kalash". It is a low-toxic drug that penetrates the soil and is absorbed by tubers. Pests die within 24 hours after trying the tops. Use at air temperature +15 +25 C. Do not use the drug “Kalash” 20 days before harvest. It is dangerous for bees, so the protective zone should be 4-5 km. Based on 1 hundred square meters, take 1 ml of the drug per 5 liters of water.

"Euphoria". Available in powder or liquid form. Due to its wide spectrum of action and ease of use, it is a popular drug among farmers. It is toxic, so Euphoria should not be used near apiaries and bodies of water. When diluting the powder and spraying the solution, wear personal protective equipment. Depending on the crop being processed, from 100 g is used. up to 300 gr. for 1 hectare. Sold ready-made, therefore does not require breeding.

Effective and safe products

Have you ever dug up a bush of varietal potatoes and cooked it according to your favorite recipe, only to realize that the taste is not the same? Has the variety degenerated? Lots of moisture? Missing any micronutrients? Everything is simpler - an overabundance of toxic chemicals and pesticides that accumulate in the ground and easily penetrate the tubers.

Therefore, if there are not many beetles on the plantings, do not be lazy to do the simplest thing - collect it manually. Yes, it's unpleasant! Yes, it's tiring! Yes, it takes time and requires daily collection! But for your own health you cannot be lazy, otherwise why would you need a plot of land? There is no point in poisoning the earth with chemicals if you can just as easily buy all the products at the market!

Everyone will draw their own conclusion, but even the most harmless pesticides cause great harm. Hence, food ceases to be tasty, and most importantly, healthy.

Advantages:

Does not harm health, does not accumulate in the soil.
When sprayed, it does not penetrate the respiratory system or mucous membranes.
Can be reused.
Low price.

Flaws:

To achieve the best result, processing will have to be carried out several times a month, alternating with manual collection of beetles.

If you approach the issue of beetle control as responsibly as possible, you will be able to control the insect population within acceptable limits. But for this you need to do everything in a timely manner and not leave it to chance. Ignoring a problem does not mean its absence.

Broom to the rescue

This method is very simple and quick to perform. You need to take a large ten-liter bucket, pour a little water (200 ml) into the bottom, add a handful of salt. Dip an ordinary broom into the solution, place a bucket under the bush, and sweep all pests into the bucket. One bush takes about 5-7 seconds. In 2 hours you can cover a decent area, collecting striped beetles.

After this, vinegar, boiling water or another aggressive substance is added to the bucket, which leads to the death of the insect. The procedure should be performed in the first half of the day, when the beetles are most active. Once every 3-4 days at the end of May will be enough to prevent their population from increasing in June.

If orange eggs are identified, experts recommend removing them, after which the eggs are destroyed using the above methods.

Mustard and vinegar

For 1 liter of hot water (but not boiling water), take 200 g of mustard powder and stir until completely dissolved. Pour into 10 liters of water, adding half a glass of vinegar. Spray potatoes in the late evening in calm weather. To improve adhesion, you can add 3 tablespoons of liquid tar soap.

The procedure is carried out by thoroughly treating all parts of the bush, including the lower part of the leaf. 2 sprayings per month are enough if there is no heavy rain during this period.

Wormwood and red pepper

Take 200 ml of vodka, pour it into a liter jar, add 50 g of dry wormwood herb and a teaspoon of dry ground red pepper. Cover tightly with a nylon lid and put in the refrigerator for 10 days. The jar should be shaken every day.

Strain the infusion and dilute it in 10 liters of warm water. Spray potatoes, tomatoes, peppers. This recipe is not suitable for cabbage and eggplants, as it can cause the development of burns on soft tops.

Expert opinion

Mityuk Stefania Bogdanovna

Treatment should be done with the expectation that there will be no rain in the next 3-4 days and there will be no need for watering.

Tobacco

You need to take 1 pack of cigarettes without a filter (the strongest), remove the protective layer of paper, and pour the contents into a ladle.
Pour a glass of cold water and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Let cool, strain through cheesecloth. Add 3 tablespoons of tar soap to the resulting decoction. Combine with 3 liters of cold water, then spray the plants along the leaves, as well as in the middle of the bush.

This treatment is especially effective in mid-summer, when the larvae have hatched from the eggs. The smell of tobacco causes insects to quickly leave the plant in search of a new shelter.

Traps

When potatoes are just sprouting or they are not there yet, but the beetle has already made itself known, you need to take advantage of the moment. Take the old potatoes that are left after planting and soak them overnight in a special solution against beetles.

In the morning, spread out the poisoned potatoes as often as possible, which will significantly reduce the number of beetles, while the grown potatoes do not come into contact with chemicals.

Many gardeners make similar traps in the fall, after harvesting. This is an absolutely pointless idea, since next year the beetle may fly from a neighbor or even from another field. The problem should be dealt with factually.

Beetle vs Beetle

The following trick has helped save more than one vegetable garden without the use of chemicals or other means. You will need to collect a half-liter jar of Colorado potato beetles, pour them into a plastic container and add 2 liters of water, remembering to close the lid tightly.

Leave drowning people for 3 days. During this time, insects experience stress, during which a strong poison is released, given to them by nature for the purpose of protection.

When all the beetles sink to the bottom, the miracle cure is ready. It is necessary to drain the resulting liquid and dilute it with water 1:1, then spray potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. No matter how strange it may seem, this method works better than others, and the protection lasts for weeks.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies are especially popular because they are not toxic to people and are almost as effective as insecticides. Preventive measures are aimed at preventing the reproduction of the Colorado potato beetle on the site. To do this, the soil must be prepared. Fresh sawdust is placed between the rows, the smell of which repels adult insects and larvae. Another effective remedy is birch ash, which is sprinkled between the rows and young shoots. Birch ash serves as an excellent means of destroying larvae and will help protect the harvest. Also, a solution is prepared from ash powder and dry wormwood, which is sprayed on the leaves.

One of the most common methods is to collect beetles and larvae by hand. But this takes a lot of time and is not very effective, since new larvae will not be slow to emerge from egg clutches.

Gardeners prepare a solution from onion peels, decoctions of wormwood, horsetail, calendula, tobacco or mustard. Treatment is carried out in the evening, since in the morning dew can wash away the solution, and the sun's rays will destroy the beneficial properties.

Traps are also a common way to get rid of the Colorado potato beetle. To prepare the trap, take a three-liter jar and put pieces of potato into it. The jar is buried between the rows so that the top remains at soil level. Its edges are smeared with potato juice. The beetles end up in a jar, after which all that remains is to collect and kill them. Experienced gardeners advise in their reviews to prepare such traps in the fall to prevent the beetle from leaving for the winter.

Experienced gardeners use tar or tar soap, which is diluted in water. There is no detailed description of the solution, since everyone selects the concentration experimentally. Usually take 2 tbsp. for 1 liter of water. The peculiarity of the drug is that it does not kill, but repels the pest.

Features of the pest and the reasons for its high survival rate

The Colorado potato beetle is a real problem, the absence of a solution to which can leave the crop completely empty.
A female beetle is capable of laying up to 600 eggs in one clutch, choosing places so that humans cannot see them. But not only this factor ensures such good survival in conditions with harsh winters.

Firstly , only 45 days pass from the moment the egg is formed to a full-fledged beetle, so during this period of time (usually by mid-June) the number of insects can increase 200-300 times. Even if there are several dozen Colorado potato beetles on the site, in the blink of an eye there will be more than a thousand of them.
Secondly , the beetle has no natural enemies. If ladybugs save us from aphids and fleas, and birds help us fight mole crickets, the “striped foreigner” is not to the liking of any of the planet’s animals. This gives him a feeling of complete security.
Thirdly , a long diapause allows the insect to wait out hunger, drought and other unfavorable phenomena, so do not think if your garden has not been planted for 2 years that all Colorado potato beetles have died out.
Fourthly , if neighbors in the area use chemicals that successfully repel the pest, all this hungry mass will be directed towards you, so you need to protect your plantings in the same way.
Fifthly , severe frosts are not scary for him, since he winters at a depth of 60-80 cm, feeling great at the same time.

But agricultural technology does not stand still, so there is a solution for this pest. But ask yourself this question: If insects don't eat sprayed crops, should humans eat them? The animal world is not as stupid as we think. But a person will always be one step ahead, and recipes based on natural products will help with this.