The Colorado potato beetle is a terrible pest that can take decades to control. It easily adapts to unfavorable conditions and is not afraid of even the most dangerous poisons. In such situations, many summer residents wonder: how to poison the Colorado potato beetle so that it does not destroy the potatoes? Oddly enough, both folk remedies and chemistry show a good effect.
Prestige
This drug is considered one of the best for use at home. The operating principle is systematic. The composition includes not only a substance that protects against insect activity, but also a substance that protects against fungus.
For a kilogram of potatoes, 1 ml of the drug is needed. The treatment is carried out before planting: the tubers are laid out in a single layer on a tarpaulin or soil, and then sprayed with a solution. The treated material is turned over to cover the lower part with Prestige. Before planting, the tubers should be thoroughly dried. Experts advise processing potatoes near the planting site so as not to remove the resulting film.
Since the drug penetrates the stems and leaves of the crop, the beetles that eat it die. They don't even have time to give birth. The product will not get into the tubers themselves, which will grow again and be used as food by humans.
An additional advantage of Prestige is its ability to accelerate the growth of bushes and protect them from stress. At the end of its action, it breaks down into non-toxic elements.
Cost - about 500 rubles for 60 ml.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners advise starting to fight the beetle as early as possible so that it does not have time to lay eggs. It is much more difficult to fight a brood of larvae. They eat leaves faster, slowing down plant growth. In addition, it is advisable to catch it before the flowers appear. The larvae cause significant damage by eating flowers. In this case, tubers may not set.
It is better to carry out treatment in the evening, since morning dew reduces the concentration of the active substance. When working with chemicals and bioinsecticides, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment: mask, goggles and gloves. But if there is a special suit, that’s good.
You also need to carefully monitor how toxic the drug is. During spraying and even after, it is necessary to limit the access of children, pets and bees.
Also, you cannot treat with the same drug every year; you need to at least alternate 2-3 products. Insects quickly develop immunity.
Do not spray or water before or immediately after rain, as it washes away the active ingredients. They do not have time to influence insects. And finally, dilute as much of the drug as is sure to be enough for the entire area. It cannot be stored.
Fitoverm
Among chemistry against the Colorado potato beetle, Fitoverm is very popular. It helps not only against this parasite, but also against others. At the same time, the product quickly decomposes and does not harm the environment. There is no need to destroy dead insects; they can serve as good feeding.
To spray one hundred square meters of potatoes, you need to dissolve 5 ml of the drug in 5 liters of water. Events are held in dry weather without rain, there should be no wind. The best temperature is approximately +25 degrees. To protect the crop, up to three treatments can be carried out, maintaining a break of 20 days. The working solution cannot be stored. Thanks to the action of Fitoverm, parasites cannot feed and die within 3 days after treatment.
Judging by the reviews, this is a very good remedy for the Colorado potato beetle, which has a low price. For example, 4 ml costs only 14 rubles.
What is the treatment of tubers?
To protect growing vegetables from the Colorado potato beetle and other pests, tubers can be treated in several ways before planting.
Spraying method
It is most often used for insecticidal disinfectants. From a spray bottle into which the prepared solution is poured, the tubers laid out horizontally in a row are sprayed evenly and comprehensively, then either turned over and sprayed again, or mixed manually so that the solution envelops each tuber by at least two-thirds.
In the absence of a spray bottle, you can use a regular broom or large brush. You can use film or tarpaulin as a backing. Turning and mixing the potatoes must be done carefully so as not to break off the emerging shoots - this will negatively affect the yield!
Only after drying are the sown vegetables ready for planting in the ground.
Bathing method
This method is best suited for biological products. Tubers prepared for planting are placed in a net and then completely immersed in the prepared product. The time for bathing potatoes depends on the formulation of the drug into which the tubers are immersed, but on average such a bath takes about several hours.
Then the root crops removed from the solution are allowed to drain and dry, doing this extremely carefully so as not to damage the shoots. After this soaking in the solution, the planted plants will be protected from Colorado potato beetles and, in addition, nourished, which will provide them with better germination.
Pollination method
The method consists of processing with a dry bulk agent, crushed to a state close to powder. The tubers laid out in a row are carefully pollinated with such a product before planting so that the entire root crop is covered with the desired substance. Typically, potatoes are treated this way with wood or birch ash, sifted and crushed.
It is better to do pollination immediately before planting so that the dry product does not fall off. Additionally, you can also pour it into the hole.
Beetle eater
This is a new drug that is often used to kill pests on potatoes. The composition includes several active substances: alpha-cyperemthrin, which does not allow the beetle to feed and causes its rapid death, imidacloprid, which protects plants from negative environmental influences and prevents even an adult parasite from harming them, and clothianidin, which provides the crop with long-term protection. The beetle eater destroys even those beetles that are located on the lower sides of the foliage.
It is enough to carry out the treatment only once during the growing season. In this case, the potatoes will be protected for the whole season. Before use, please read the instructions:
- Dilute the concentrated drug in a liter of water.
- Add more water to this mixture. As a result, there should be 1.5 ml of concentrate per 3 liters of water. The product should be used immediately and should not be stored.
- Spray the stems and leaves with the preparation. Manipulations are best done before 10 am or after 18 pm. Consumption is 3 liters per 100 square meters.
- After processing, at least 3 weeks must pass before harvesting.
It is important that there are no children or pets nearby during the procedure; in addition, it is necessary to protect the skin with protective clothing. Rubber boots, a respirator and rubber gloves are a must. It is advisable not to combine Beetleworm with other similar products.
Price – 26 rubles per 1.5 ml ampoule.
Use of insecticides
Insecticides are also used to control insects on potatoes. Insecticides destroy the pest and its larvae with less treatment. Biological agents must be used more times to obtain the same effect. However, in general, the use of both means is similar.
- The first thing you need to do is take care of your safety. To do this, you need to prepare a mask, headdress, rubber boots, gloves, and a completely closed robe.
- The insecticidal solution is mixed in the proportions specified in the instructions. For this purpose, utensils not intended for food are used. The solution is then poured into a spray bottle.
- Each plant should be sprayed as completely as possible to cover at least three quarters of the shoot. Otherwise, the desired effect cannot be achieved.
- After treatment, you need to thoroughly wash your hands, rinse your mouth, take a bath, and wash your clothes. During work, you should not take breaks for food or cigarettes.
- The treated area should not be visited for a couple of days.
You should take into account the fact that the timing of getting rid of the pest depends on the product. They can range from a couple of hours to a couple of days.
The best insecticides for tops
- Regent
- Sherpa
- Iskra Golden
- Confidor in ampoules
- Tanrek
- Aktara
- Commander
- Mospilan
- Grinda
- Inta-vir
- Tsitkor
- Cyrax
Lightning
The drug Molniya works great against the Colorado potato beetle. It causes paralysis and death of parasites at any phase of their development. The toxic effect begins half an hour after treatment, and the insects die within 24 hours. The consumption is quite economical.
To spray 2 acres of potatoes, 1 ampoule is required; it is dissolved in 6 liters of water. Manipulations are carried out in dry weather without wind, preferably early in the morning or at sunset. The optimal temperature is +25 degrees.
The entire working solution should be used. It is not suitable for storage. In addition, it should not be poured into bodies of water. If there is anything left, you can use it to treat raspberries, cabbage, and currants. It is worth remembering that Lightning cannot be combined with pesticides with an alkaline reaction.
It is permissible to carry out manipulations twice, but in any case, 20 days must pass before harvesting. A similar break is maintained between treatments.
If you use Lightning for several years in a row, insects develop resistance to it. Therefore, you need to take pesticides from different chemical classes.
The cost of 1.5 ml of the product is 15 rubles.
Is it possible to destroy the Colorado potato beetle forever?
It is unlikely that insects will be eradicated 100 percent. Adult beetles go deep underground for the winter, and larvae and eggs can survive even on tubers after harvest. They end up in storage and calmly wait for spring there, eating juicy root vegetables all winter.
However, don't be upset. In the spring, you need to inspect the planting material for the presence of larvae and beetles. Before planting, treat all tubers with special compounds: Prestige, Cruiser, Taboo, Celeste Top, Matador Grand. According to manufacturers, the method of spraying potatoes before planting will protect the bushes from attacks by the Colorado potato beetle for 45-50 days.
Tips for a gardener!
Work begins with the preparation of solutions. The quantity should be enough for the entire potato plot. You need to agree with your neighbors about the time of spraying in order to cover as large an area as possible. It is better to spray the solution while on the leeward side, or choose a windless day without rain. Time of day - in the morning from 6 to 9 o'clock, in the evening - from 18 to 21 o'clock.
Taboo
This is a new generation drug used before planting. About 10 ml of product is needed for 120 tubers. To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve 8 ml of Tabu in a glass of water and shake thoroughly. Then add water, bringing the volume to a liter. Spray the tubers that are ready for planting; a dense colored film should appear on them. As soon as everything is dry, the planting material should be placed in the holes.
The manufacturer also recommends spraying furrows or holes with spread potatoes. Then the dilution rate is 4 ml per 10 liters of water. The treated areas are covered with soil from the next row.
Protection lasts about 45 days from the moment of emergence. The effectiveness of Tabu does not depend on weather conditions, in addition, in the dosage recommended by the manufacturer, it does not pose a danger to insects and animals. Additionally, the drug will protect plantings from wireworms.
It is worth remembering that the product does not protect plants from fungus, so it is recommended to combine it with Bunker or Trust, Vial. It's not worth it with others.
Treatment must take place on the day of disembarkation, since the toxicity of the poison decreases during prolonged exposure to the air or under the sun.
To prepare the solution, you need to use special containers; during work you need to use special clothing, a respirator and gloves. After the manipulations, it is advisable to take a shower. Naturally, processed tubers are prohibited for consumption.
Price – from 145 rubles per package, designed for 125 kilograms of potatoes.
Bitoxibacillin
This product is based on bacterial spores. It is especially effective for Colorado potato beetle larvae, as it destroys their intestines.
To spray 1 acre, use from 20 to 50 g of the drug, dilute this amount in 5 liters of water. Manipulations are carried out in clear weather without wind. It is very important to ensure that drops of liquid fall on the back of the face, which are especially likely to contain insect eggs. As soon as the larvae hatch, they will immediately receive a dose of the toxin.
It is very important to calculate the processing time so that there is no rain in the coming days. Although even if it starts after 12 hours, most of the parasites will still be poisoned. The larvae will begin to die out after a few days.
You can carry out 3 sprayings, taking a break of a week. Spray the potatoes immediately after the larvae begin to actively hatch. The working solution is used immediately, otherwise after a few hours it will no longer be effective.
The price of 20 grams of Bitoxibacillin is on average 40 rubles.
Description and characteristics of the pest
This insect from the family of leaf beetles harms not only potato plantings, but also beds of other nightshade plants (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, tobacco, physalis) and weeds (henbane, nightshade).
The Colorado potato beetle has a yellowish-orange body size from 8 to 12 mm. Each wing is marked with five black stripes on a yellow background. The pronotum is covered with dark spots. The larva grows up to 16 mm, dark brown at first, soon acquires a brighter pinkish or yellow tint, there are black spots on the sides, the head is also dark, and there are six pairs of eyes on both sides.
The adult waits out the winter, burrowing into the ground to a depth of 50 cm, in the spring crawls to the surface, where he mates and lays eggs from 15 to 20 in one clutch, on the underside of the leaves, near the roots, that is, in those places where they will protected from the sun, where they would be difficult to detect. After a week or two, the eggs hatch into larvae. There are four ages:
- 1st instar larvae eat the pulp of the underside of the leaf blade;
- larvae of the 2nd instar gnaw off the entire potato leaf, leaving only the petioles; they themselves are found in a brood on the tops of the shoots;
- individuals of the 3rd and 4th instars spread over neighboring plants.
After about three weeks they burrow into the ground to pupate. After one to three weeks, an adult insect emerges from the pupa. The newly hatched beetle appears bright orange with soft coverings. Soon they darken and then become their usual striped color.
A beetle, flying with a tailwind, can spread over tens of kilometers. The beetle's lifespan reaches three years. Under unfavorable conditions, adult individuals enter diapause, in which they can remain for 2-3 years. Sensing danger, the Colorado potato beetle falls to the ground, pretending to be dead.
Bison
Bison is a systemic insecticide. It attacks the parasite's nervous system and prevents it from feeding, causing extinction within a few days. To treat 100 square meters, you need to dissolve 1 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water. Spraying is carried out early in the morning or in the evening so as not to cause leaf burn. It takes several hours for complete absorption, so it is best that the weather is dry.
The bison is distributed over the tops of the plant, so even the larvae, hiding in the most unexpected places, die. Judging by the reviews, the effectiveness remains at 95%.
For better fixation, the product is mixed with crushed laundry soap. You can use it a month before harvesting, but then it is no longer worth it. In the correct dosage, Bison is non-toxic.
The remains of the working solution can be used for tomatoes, cucumbers or flower crops. Treatment with this drug should not be carried out for more than three years in a row.
When to spray potatoes
Since beetles are very fond of delicate potato flowers, and it is during flowering that the future harvest is laid, the optimal time for spraying is before and after flowering. If pests are found on flowers, it is better to collect them manually or use safe traditional methods, and put chemicals aside for now.
So spraying can be carried out when the first shoots appear and then every 2-3 weeks until flowering. The next time the treatment is carried out after flowering.
Also, the time of the procedure is morning or evening in cloudy, dry weather, when there is no wind.
Aktara
Many summer residents have a positive attitude towards Aktara due to its excellent effect. It causes paralysis of the pests, after which they die. In addition to the Colorado potato beetle, the product perfectly destroys wireworms and some other parasites. Plants will be protected for a long period, in addition, Aktara has a fairly economical consumption.
You can use the insecticide in one of two ways:
- Before planting the crop, water the furrows with a solution prepared as follows: take 4 g of granules or 4 ml of suspension per 10 liters of water. This mixture is enough for 100 linear meters. Protection will last about 2 months. There is no need to process the tops.
- Spray the tops. For two hundred square meters, a solution made from 1.2 g of granules or 1.2 ml of suspension dissolved in 10 liters of water will be sufficient. It is advisable that there is no precipitation on the day of manipulation. The effect of the product lasts for a month.
You can combine Aktara with growth stimulants Epin and Zircon. After applying the drug to the soil, it is forbidden to eat potatoes for 3 months. Therefore, very early varieties can only be sprayed.
For humans, hazard class II or III, and for bees – I. Aktara poses a slight danger to birds and worms.
Mustard
One of the best folk remedies to help against the Colorado potato beetle is mustard. This is a very budget option that can be used in a variety of ways. It has a particularly strong effect on the larvae, and they pose the greatest danger to potato plantings.
Most often, spray solutions are made with mustard:
- 100 g mustard + 10 l water + 100 ml vinegar 9%;
- 100 g mustard + 1 liter of water + a little laundry soap.
It is recommended to use the prepared mixture at least once a week. This is the only way to achieve the best result.
In addition, experienced summer residents advise planting mustard between potato rows. As soon as it starts to bloom, mow it and place it under the bushes of the main crop. Thanks to this, not only the Colorado potato beetle will disappear from the site, but also the wireworm.
Natural ways to control pests
The best methods, which are safe for people, animals and the environment, include many years of experience based on the use of folk recipes. The energy expended pays off in a good, environmentally friendly harvest.
- You can remove insects manually. However, there is a way to make this process easier. Use a broom to remove pests from each bush into a bucket. After collection, insects need to be moved to another place away from your site.
- Spray the foliage with decoctions of beneficial plants. These include wormwood, horsetail, calendula, tobacco, mustard. You can also add onion skins to this list. The procedure must be carried out in the dark, since the beneficial properties of the decoction disappear under the influence of sunlight.
- Lining the beds with straw or grass works well to reduce the number of beetles.
- An excellent remedy is to sprinkle the leaves with ash from trees, or spray them with an infusion of ash and wormwood. This product completely removes insects from the garden.
It is very important to carry out all procedures systematically, preventing the insects from appearing again. Carry out pest control as soon as you find insects in your area. After all, if an insect destroys a little less than half of the foliage, then about a third of the harvest will be lost.
Celandine
The plant can rid the area of the Colorado potato beetle for at least 2 weeks. Celandine juice kills both larvae and adults, and also has a repellent effect. You can use the plant as mulch or prepare a decoction from it.
In the first case, you need to mow down the celandine and place it under each potato bush. As soon as it starts to dry out, the layer should be renewed. It is important to ensure that there is no over-steaming.
Dry or fresh stems of the crop are used for the solution. They are placed in a bucket, filled completely, compacted and filled with water. All this is boiled for 15 minutes, allowed to cool and strained. To carry out the treatment, you should take 500 ml of the drug, dilute it in a bucket of water and spray the bushes.
You can protect plants before planting. To do this, the tubers are sent to a strong celandine solution, which gives them good protection. The product is prepared as follows: a bucket is filled with fresh grass, compacted and filled with water, and boiled. All this is left to infuse for 24 hours without diluting.
It is worth remembering that celandine is dangerous to humans, so when working with it you need to wear closed clothing, shoes, and gloves.
Chemical insecticides - tuber protectants
The advantages of insecticides intended for pre-planting treatment of potatoes are difficult to dispute:
- Systemic and long-term protection against almost all crop-threatening factors - insects and fungi;
- Improved yield;
- Eliminates the need for frequent spraying;
- Harmless to plants.
- Toxicity suggests caution and protective equipment during handling;
- The poison persists for a long time, which makes their use for early varieties not always acceptable;
- Before processing, it is imperative to protect yourself with a mask, closed clothing and gloves, and afterward, wash yourself and wash your clothes.
The combination of these positive qualities increases the popularity of insecticides.
But they are not without significant disadvantages:
Insecticides have a detrimental effect on pests when they try to eat the emerging seedlings. The beetle is doomed first to blocking nerve impulses, then to complete paralysis, and then to rapid death.
Important! During the work you must refrain from eating, drinking and smoking!
"Prestige"
The most well-known product for vegetable growers, which provides lasting protection for a month against Colorado potato beetles, wireworms, psyllid, sawfly, thrips, darter, bread midge, and aphids.
Remedy "Prestige" for the Colorado potato beetle
In addition to insects, “Prestige” protects young plants from fungal infections - rot, mold, leaf rust, powdery mildew, smut, septoria.
The toxic substance, which in “Prestige” is imidacloprid, is distributed throughout the plant only from the bottom up, so it is excluded from getting into new tubers. After 40 days, the substance disintegrates and loses toxicity.
Effect of the drug "Prestige"
“Prestige” is produced bottled in bottles of 30, 60, 150 and 500 ml. To treat tubers, the product is diluted in water 1 to 20, and the solution is sprayed on vegetables prepared for planting. After the processing has been done, it is better to immediately begin planting in the holes.
"Cruiser 350 FS"
Another high-quality disinfectant based on the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam, which can protect planted vegetables from the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm and soil pests. Protection lasts 1.5 - 2 months and does not require additional surface treatment.
"Cruiser" is produced in the form of a ready-made emulsion concentrate in canisters with a capacity of 20 liters. The consumption of the working solution is 0.3 liters per ton of potatoes.
"Cruiser" is compatible with the use of other preparations for planting treatment, for example, growth stimulants that have a neutral reaction. Not for use with organic solutions.
It is good to combine the treatment “Cruiser” with the fungicide “Maxim” - another preventive agent, the treatment of which guarantees the protection of planted tubers, in addition to beetles, from silver scab, fusarium, rhizoctonia and fomoz.
"Commander"
Excellent results will be obtained by treating potatoes with the “Commander” disinfectant with a pronounced insecticidal and fungicidal effect based on imidacloprid.
“Commander” is able to protect young plants against many pests and fungal infections throughout the growing season - from the emergence of seedlings to the germination of 5-6 leaves over the entire surface, protecting even the lower part of the leaf.
According to the instructions, the dressing agent used is 1 - 1.5 liters of solution per 100 kg of tubers. Belongs to class 3 toxic effects. Compatible with most growth regulators, fungicides, fertilizers, insecticides. Available in 10.5 liters and in smaller containers.
"Celeste Top"
A relatively new disinfectant before planting vegetables, combining 2 active substances - pencycuron (destruction of fungal infections) and imidacloprid (elimination of insect pests), effectively insures potato seedlings against most ground-based and soil-dwelling pests, as well as against many diseases for a period of 40 - 60 days.
Repeated treatment is not required until the new crop ripens. To treat 100 kg of root crops you will need 1 liter of the drug.
An analogue of “Select Top” is the potato disinfectant “Matador” based on imidacloprid and mancozeb.
Reviews
Nastasya: How many years this Colorado potato beetle tormented me - it’s scary to tell. I tried many different remedies, but none of them worked. I had to just assemble it with my hands, but it was so annoying. And then my husband told me that there are preparations that are applied directly to the ground. That is, the toxin will poison not only the tubers themselves, but will also be located in the bush itself. If the beetles want to eat your plants, they will get poisoned and soon die. To be honest, I was skeptical about this method, but still chose the drug Tabu. She planted potatoes, and soon expected the invasion of unexpected guests. Surprisingly, that year all my beetles died. Moreover, the duration of action of the drug is surprisingly fast. I went to tell my neighbor, who also suffered from this parasite, and she decided to try the same remedy. I was also impressed. Now I will study the issue more deeply, look for other products, since they need to be changed periodically.
Vladimir: I don’t really like chemistry and try to use it as little as possible on my site. To be honest, I couldn’t find a good remedy for the Colorado potato beetle. Then I saw a neighbor’s celandine on his property and asked why he was growing it. I thought it was for medical purposes. But it turns out that he uses it to prepare bug repellents. He shared several recipes with me and I used them. And really, the pests disappeared from my site! I didn't even expect such an effect. I was pleased.
Inna: When I first bought the dacha, I immediately became concerned with the question of how to protect potatoes from the Colorado potato beetle. My grandmother always had a lot of it on her property, and I didn’t want the crop to be devoured by a pest. I searched the Internet and found the Prestige product. I treated it according to the instructions - and I didn’t have a beetle all summer. I will definitely use this product in the future.
Marina: For several years I tried to figure out how to poison the Colorado potato beetle. Manual cleaning of this insect, as you understand, was not anything pleasant. A neighbor recommended the drug Molniya to me, but she only said that sometimes I need to change it to something else. I processed it and was shocked. I definitely didn’t expect such a wonderful effect. True, by the end of the action I did find a few bugs, but they were sluggish, so I was able to get rid of them without any problems.
Regina: I really didn’t expect that mustard could help in the fight against the Colorado potato beetle. The method was recommended to me by my mother, who loves folk remedies. I made a solution according to her recipe and sprayed the bushes every week. Additionally, I planted mustard in my beds to ward off the parasite. And indeed, there was no sign of these nasty bugs. Excellent result!
Preventing beetles
When dealing with pests, it is important to understand that it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of them forever. There are a number of reasons for this:
- high insect fertility;
- suitable climatic conditions;
- the ability of pests to withstand hunger for up to 2 months;
- wintering deep in the ground, which provides protection from freezing;
- the ability to cover long distances in flight.
It is impossible to get rid of pests forever due to their high survivability, active reproduction and ability to quickly adapt to climatic conditions and many insecticides
In order not to fight the pest again and again, we recommend taking measures to prevent its occurrence. First of all, use wood ash to fertilize the soil when planting potatoes.
Do not destroy spiders, lacewings, ladybugs - these insects are the worst enemies of the Colorado potato beetle.
fragrant flowers around the perimeter of the garden or beds - mattiola, calendula, marigolds, night violets. Such plants will not only decorate your summer cottage, but will also help ward off striped pests.
The activity of the Colorado potato beetle is not always the same. The “population” of the parasite varies from season to season depending on the weather. Thus, in warm and humid summers, the possible number of reproduction cycles increases, and in snowy and moderately cold winters, the maximum number of adult individuals overwintering in the soil survives. Experienced gardeners claim that the apparent success of using “homemade” remedies, as a rule, coincides with years characterized by a natural decrease in the number of pests. This means that for now, manual collection remains the safest and most effective way to combat this scourge. In terms of effectiveness, it can only be rivaled by the use of fairly aggressive pesticides, which many summer residents try to avoid. We can only hope that a harmless, convenient, affordable and radical remedy for the beetle will appear in the near future.
You can get rid of beetles on potatoes using folk remedies or pesticides. Choose a control method that will not only be effective, but also as safe as possible for root crops and people.
