The main potato pests and methods of control

Potato pests cause enormous damage to potato crops every year. Gardeners and farm owners lose kilograms and tons of vegetables, despite spending considerable resources to protect the crop. To achieve results, it's important to understand potato pests, their treatment, control methods, and preventative measures.

Colorado beetle

The Colorado potato beetle tops the list of potato "enemies." This striped, orange-and-black insect is familiar to many gardeners for its voracious appetite. Once settled on the potato, the beetle and its larvae feed on the leaves and shoots, leaving behind gnawed stems.

Adults (imagoes) are no larger than 12 mm, while larvae reach 10-15 mm. Orange-colored caterpillars with a black head and two rows of black dots on their sides emerge from egg clutches in early summer. They develop through four stages (instars), then burrow into the soil and pupate.

Females lay between 300 and 750 eggs per season, the number depending on weather conditions and climate. Mature larvae crawl through plants in search of food, gradually invading new areas of potato crops and devouring healthy plants. The beetles, using their wings, can fly considerable distances in search of food.

The pests are most active during the budding and flowering periods. If left unchecked, colonies of insects can completely destroy potato crops. Controlling the beetle is difficult, as the insects are resistant to chemicals and can enter a period of diapause (hibernation) for 2-3 years, surviving periods of starvation. The insects sense danger and, at critical moments, drop to the ground, feigning death.

Birds, with the exception of turkeys and guinea fowl, are not interested in Colorado potato beetles, as the pest's cells accumulate significant amounts of dangerous toxins (solanine). Natural enemies of the larvae include ground beetles and ladybugs.

Nematodes

The worst pests of potatoes (see photo) include microscopic golden nematodeThe worms, approximately 1 mm long, live in the soil for about 8-10 years. They overwinter as eggs and larvae in cysts, and when warmer weather arrives, they penetrate the root system of plants. Feeding on plant tissue and sap, they grow into adults, which, after fertilization, lay eggs within themselves and then die. There are several varieties of nematodes:

• gall - damages crop roots, potatoes in the ground;
• stem - affects the above-ground part of plants, appears on tubers during storage;
• soil - parasitizes on potato roots.

When nematode infested, the bushes stop growing and turn yellow. During flowering, buds are small or absent, and tubers fail to form. The pest appears due to poor agricultural practices, lack of crop rotation, or when infected seed is planted.

Wireworm and false wireworm

The damage caused by wireworms is comparable to that caused by the Colorado potato beetle. Wireworms are the larvae of the click beetle, which are omnivorous and damage all garden crops and cereals. Adults pose no threat.

The larvae are caterpillars up to 2-3 cm long, with a tough, chitinous covering that is brown-yellow or brown. They live in the soil for 3-4 years, damaging roots, stolons, and the underside of plants. In tubers, the larvae chew labyrinthine tunnels, causing potato rot and spoilage. These pests carry viruses that cause dangerous diseases, making the potatoes unsuitable for storage and consumption.

False wireworms are the larvae of the darkling beetle, very similar in appearance to true wireworms. The differences lie in their life cycle, as these pests live for about a year. Both adult wireworms and their larval worms, which feed on seed embryos, seedling roots, and stems near the root collar, cause plant damage.

Aphid

A malicious potato pest, the aphid, is found in all regions. Hundreds of species of this insect exist in nature, each with a distinct biological profile. The potato aphid is a small insect, approximately 2-3 mm in size, greenish in color with a dark head. There are winged and wingless varieties, each with its own function (reproduction or migration).

The insects feed on plant sap and live in colonies on the undersides of leaf blades. When potato plants are infected, the upper layers of leaves begin to curl and dry out. The plants wilt, reducing crop yields. Aphids secrete honeydew, which attracts ants and flies. Sooty mold quickly forms on the leaves.

This species of aphid is polyphagous, feeding on the sap of a wide variety of crops. A massive aphid infestation poses a threat not only to potato beds, but also to tomato, eggplant, cabbage, cucumber, zucchini, and rose crops. This pest is also dangerous because it carries a large number of different viruses, infecting healthy potato crops.

Leafhoppers

Leafhoppers are most common in the southern regions of the country. These insects resemble aphids in appearance, but have well-developed hind legs. Their legs allow these tiny leafhoppers to jump, and their wings allow them to fly across the plot. They migrate to potatoes from weeds (bindweed, sow thistle), feeding on the sap of the crop's leaves.

In the south, potatoes are attacked by the following types of leafhoppers:

• white;
• green;
• bindweed.

The main danger lies in the fact that leafhoppers transmit various diseases, including the insidious mycoplasma infection – potato stolbur.

Potato scallops

This pest typically inhabited the southern regions of the country, but due to climate warming, it has become increasingly common in the central and southern regions of the European North. These elongated beetles, reaching 1.5-2 cm in length, fly across the plot, damaging the foliage of various crops. A potato plant typically harbors up to 10-15 beetles, completely devouring the above-ground portion of the plant. Within 2-3 days, only the stems remain.

The potato weevil's active period is midsummer, when much of the country experiences intense heat. The larvae are harmless, but the adults, which feed on potato tops, are dangerous. Hand-picking the pest is not recommended, as its body contains a caustic, toxic substance called cantharidin. Contact with skin causes redness, abscesses, and ulcers. If the venom enters the bloodstream through wounds or injuries, it causes poisoning.

Potato moth

This small, gray-brown butterfly lays eggs in the soil, on the undersides of leaves, and in storage areas, from which voracious larvae later emerge. These larvae pose a threat to potato tubers and, in plantings, to the leaves and shoots of the crop.

The larvae are yellow or off-white, about 1-1.5 cm long, and feed on potatoes in the soil. As they burrow into the tubers, they leave behind numerous twisted tunnels and excrement. Potato moths can be identified by a number of signs:

• eaten leaves of tops;
• withering tops of bushes;
• dry or wet rot;
• passages in potato tubers.

Spider mite

A very tenacious insect, reaching a size of approximately 0.6-0.8 mm. It feeds on plant sap and lives on the undersides of leaves. Under normal conditions, it produces one generation per season, but in shelters where seed potatoes are grown, up to 4-5 generations of the pest can occur.

Leaves damaged by the mite become covered with yellow or brown specks, and the tops wither and dry out. A characteristic sign of the mite's presence on potatoes is a fine silvery webbing that covers the undersides of leaves and flowers.

Potato moth

An inconspicuous gray butterfly can destroy potato crops over a large area. Females lay up to 60-70 eggs, which hatch into caterpillars in late spring. The potato cutworm, a polyphagous insect, damages carrot and onion crops in addition to potatoes.

Yellow or reddish-brown larvae reach 5 cm in length and burrow into the tubers of potato plants. Roots are eaten away, the tops wilt, and the plant quickly dies. The moth tunnels through potato tubers, feeding on the tissue and leaving excrement in the cavities. After filling the cavity, the larva moves on to another tuber. Damaged tubers rot, causing significant crop losses.

Potato flea beetle

Tiny black bugs were first discovered in the United States and then migrated to other continents. In Russia, they are found throughout the country, even as far as the Far East.

Adults range in size from 2 to 2.8 mm, while larvae reach up to 12 mm. White caterpillars hatch from eggs in underground nests and feed on potato roots. Adult beetles, also known as leaf beetles, eat the leaves of potato plants. After a flea beetle infestation, potato leaves become covered with numerous holes, resembling a sieve. Plants stunt, dry out, and yields decline sharply. Furthermore, flea beetles carry viruses that attack weakened crops.

Potato ladybird

The scientific name is Epilyachna, it looks like a ladybug, but the body is covered with whitish hairs and the number of black dots on the wings is much greater (28 spots).

The 4-5 mm long beetle lays egg clutches on the underside of leaves. A single clutch can contain up to 20 eggs, with the total number of eggs laid per season reaching 300-500. The larvae are yellowish-green with numerous black hairs and feed on the leaf pulp. Caterpillars and adults leave only the veins of the leaves, completely consuming the soft tissue.

Plants dry up, wilt, and tuber formation stops. The ladybug carries dangerous viruses, increasing the damage it causes to garden crops. In addition to potatoes, it damages tomato and pepper plants, young cucumber shoots, pumpkins, and corn.

Slugs

The harm caused by this inconspicuous, nocturnal mollusk cannot be underestimated. These gastropods parasitize potato, carrot, and beetroot beds, preferring damp areas.

Slugs chew through leaf tissue, leaving holes and silvery marks on the surface, damaging root vegetables and tubers. This spoils the appearance of vegetables and reduces the quality and shelf life of the harvest. Slugs carry parasitic helminths and pathogen spores, infecting not only the plants but also pets.

Mole cricket

A large, menacing-looking insect (up to 5-6 cm) with a dark-brown body, strong legs, and powerful jaws. The mole cricket lives in the soil, creating numerous tunnels where it lays eggs. Damage is caused by both adults and larvae of the mole cricket:

• gnaw at plant stems;
• eat away root crops;
• damage potato tubers.

You can tell that a mole cricket has settled in your area by damaged, wilting bushes, as well as by holes with piles of earth on the soil surface (insect exits).

May beetle

Beetles begin their flight in late April and May, laying eggs in the soil. Larvae emerge after approximately 3-4 weeks; in their early stages, they are harmless to root crops. Beginning in their second year, the insect develops a chewing apparatus, and from then on, the larvae begin to forage for potato tubers and root crops.

The white caterpillars with red or orange spots on their sides live in the soil for about four years, then metamorphose into beetles. The larvae cause the most damage at three to four years of age, when they require a large amount of food.

In search of food, they travel underground for 80-100 meters, gnawing through the flesh of tubers. A single adult larva can damage up to 10-15 potato plants per month. The potato tops turn yellow, dry out, and wither, while the tubers rot and spoil.

Rodents

Potato-munching animals that damage potatoes include the mole rat and the mole rat. Rats are a type of field mouse and are most often found in gardens near ponds and streams. They grow up to 25 cm in length and are covered in brownish-black fur. They eat tubers, gnaw through plant roots, and create entire underground storage areas where they hide potato tubers and small root vegetables.

In favorable conditions, it reproduces very quickly, so if you notice the animal on your property (by holes in the ground, traces of damage to plants), you must immediately begin to exterminate the pest.

Mole rats are large rodents, up to 30 cm long, that feed on root vegetables and potato tubers. They lack eyes, but instead have dense folds of skin. They live underground, digging complex tunnels with burrows, creating nests and storage areas. Unlike moles, mole rats are herbivorous rodents, digging their burrows with strong teeth. Adult mole rats can eat their own body weight in food in a day (up to 1-1.2 kg). Their activity is visible in their territory by the earthen mounds and numerous tunnels that can even cause a stumble if they are not careful.

Methods of pest control

If any pests are detected in your garden, it's essential to begin controlling them as quickly as possible. Delays can lead to crop losses and outbreaks of various infections in weakened plants.

Agrotechnical techniques and mechanical methods

By following proper plant care guidelines, you can prevent pests from appearing on your property. Key methods include:

• mandatory digging of the site in spring and autumn;
• loosening and hilling the beds;
• weeding.

These measures help bring larvae, egg clutches, and adults to the surface, where the pests are easier to destroy. After autumn digging, any pests that have reached the surface will inevitably perish from the winter cold.

Hand picking is effective for controlling a number of insects. For small infestations of Colorado potato beetles or potato weevils, collect them from the bushes by hand, wearing gloves and using caution.

Use of chemicals

Modern insecticides are effective in protecting potatoes from many pests, with both general-purpose and specialized products available. The downside is toxicity, so it's recommended to use them only when there are large numbers of insects, strictly following the instructions.

From the Colorado potato beetle:

• from the pyrethroid group, Decis and Karate are suitable;
• from organophosphorus – Zolon;
• Novodor is used against larvae, Fitoverm and Bankol are used at all stages of insect development.

To exterminate potato ladybirds and moths:

• Inta-Vir;
• Spark;
• Cyperon.

Vidat is used to combat potato stem nematode, while Tagor, Imidor, Confidor Extra, and Bi-58 are effective against aphids.

Granular products have been created to combat slugs on potatoes:

• Ferramol;
• Storm;
• Meta;
• Anti-slug.

The granules are scattered between the rows, but at the same time, pets are prevented from accessing the area.

Save potatoes from mole crickets, cockchafer larvae, wireworm Bazudin, Medvetoks, and Antikhrushch can be used. Vallar (a diazinon-based product) is specifically designed to combat cockchafer larvae. Potato flea beetles are most easily controlled with solutions of Decis, Calypso, and Iskra. Cutworms are best treated with Sherpa, Actellic, and Fufanon.

To treat tubers before planting, use:

• Prestige;
• Taboo.

Lepidocide, Bitoxibacillin, and Enterobacterin have been developed and proven effective as biopreparations for potato protection. They can be used at any stage of crop development.

Folk remedies

Fight against it in summer cottages potato pests It's preferable to use traditional recipes that are safe for humans and the environment. These include various decoctions and infusions of herbs, mullein, and ash, which are prepared immediately before use.

For the Colorado potato beetle (all proportions are given based on 10 liters of water):

• Wormwood infusion. Pour 300 g of the herb with water, add a glass of ash, and let it steep for 24 hours;
• Tobacco infusion. Dried stems, roots, and powder are all suitable. The amount of raw material is half a kilogram; infuse in water for two days;
• A decoction of horsetail and dandelion. Take 200 g of each herb and boil for 15 minutes. Cool the concentrate and dilute with more water (10 liters of water per 0.5 liters).

To kill mole crickets and slugs, traps are made with beer, and wireworms are lured into "traps" with cut potatoes. After 3-4 days, all that remains is to remove the trapped insects. Potato moths and flea beetles can be eliminated by dusting the plantings with a mixture of wood ash, hot pepper, and tobacco dust.

Many insects cannot stand strong odors, so it is recommended to plant the following plants in and around potato beds:

• calendula;
• fennel;
• coriander;
• lavender;
• peppermint.

Thrips will not appear in your potato beds if you spray your potatoes with an infusion of garlic cloves or scapes (200 g of garlic per liter of water, steep for 4-5 days). Tobacco decoction, marigold infusion, and ammonia solution (2 tablespoons per bucket) have proven effective against aphids, cutworms, and flea beetles.

Preventive measures

Pest control is time-consuming; it's much easier to prevent dangerous insects from appearing in your garden. What preventative measures are effective?

• potato treatment before planting (potassium permanganate, Prestige, Tabu);
• twice a year (spring, autumn) the beds are dug up;
• remove weeds and plant debris from the garden in a timely manner;
• use healthy, high-quality seed material for planting;
• carry out the necessary agricultural techniques: watering, fertilizing, hilling up the plantings;
• monitor the plant beds, noticing the slightest changes in the growth and development of the crop in a timely manner;
• treat plantings with herbal compositions to prevent the appearance of insects;
• alternate crops on the plot, observing crop rotation;
• cultivate the soil by sowing green manure;
• carry out disinfection of gardening equipment;
• maintain the distance between holes when planting, taking into account the characteristics of the varieties;
• modern varieties that are more resistant to pests are grown on the plot;
• Only high-quality potatoes are sorted and selected for storage, removing diseased and deformed tubers.

Breeders have developed many potato varieties that are resistant to damage by certain pests.

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When growing potatoes, gardeners face various challenges, including protecting their crops from pest infestations. Knowledge of pest control methods, effective chemical pesticides, folk remedies, and preventative measures will help preserve the harvest and prevent widespread insect infestations.