Effective ways to control the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes
The most popular crop grown in vegetable gardens is potatoes. There is no gardener who has never met a Colorado potato beetle in his life. This pest has perfectly adapted in the territories of the post-Soviet space, and mercilessly terrorizes nightshade crops. The fight against the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes is carried out using different methods.
Effective ways to control the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes
Pest characteristic
The species got its name after leaf beetles ate most of the potato plantings in Colorado in America. His real homeland is Mexico. Today, the pest lives in most European countries, except for the UK. The fight against the leaf beetle is actively carried out on all continents where nightshade crops are grown.
Description:
- females lay eggs on the underside of nightshade leaves;
- the color of the larvae is red-orange;
- the developmental cycle of larvae is 21 days;
- the adult becomes striped.
The pest has adapted to our climate so much that some adults even hibernate in the soil. The leaf beetle is buried in the ground to a depth of 20 to 50 cm. If the females have time to mate in the fall, then in the spring they will begin to lay eggs on the sprouts that have just hatched. In the southern regions, the pest can form 2-3 generations, in the northern 1.
How to deal with a pest
Methods of dealing with the Colorado potato beetle are divided into 2 groups:
- chemical;
- folk remedies.
Most farmers prefer to kill the Colorado potato beetle without the use of chemicals. Insecticides are used on rare occasions when other control methods are completely ineffective. To date, the means of fighting the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes are presented in huge quantities.
The fight against the leaf beetle is complicated by the fact that the pest burrows into the ground from time to time to protect itself from the action of the poison. Plants need to be processed at least twice. In addition, insects quickly adapt to chemicals, so the poison should be changed every season. Combined methods of combating the Colorado potato beetle work perfectly, which involve the use of insecticides and folk remedies at the same time.
Chemicals
To decide how to deal with the Colorado potato beetle, you need to study the development cycles of insects in your region. It is advisable to disinfect the seed even before planting. In general, you need to process the plants 2 times for the whole season, sometimes 3.
They begin to pickle potatoes a second time when they bloom. Such chemical agents have proven themselves excellent: Killer, Euphoria, Tornado, Bushido, Tanrek, Bison, Fufanon.
Killer
Plants can be protected from the beetle
A means of complex influence. Helps to protect plants from spreading not only leaf beetle larvae, but also whiteflies, ticks and aphids.The advantage of this drug is that it does not have a phytotoxic effect on the plants themselves, does not accumulate in tops and root crops. The product remains effective for another 30 days after spraying.
Spraying is carried out during planting and during the period of active development of the culture. During the active growth phase, a single procedure is allowed. The time of the manipulation depends on the variety of plants. Work must be carried out no later than 45 days before harvesting. In combination with Killer, an alkaline or copper-based insecticide is used.
The ampoule is designed to process 1 hectare. All actions must be performed in accordance with the safety instructions for carrying out treatment with chemicals. The solution must be made just before use.
Euphoria
The insecticide provides long-term protection against the pest. The main advantage is the ability to influence not only the adults, but also the larvae. Spraying is carried out as soon as the first pest appears. Valid for 5 weeks, the second spraying is carried out 40 days after the first.
The insecticide is often used in complex formulations. It goes well with many other drugs. It is not recommended to use near apiaries in order to avoid poisoning of bees. The product is moderately toxic to the human body, therefore, treatment should be carried out in a protective suit and a respirator.
Tornado
Tornado is a herbicide used to control weeds. It completely cleans and disinfects the soil, including has a detrimental effect on the larvae of the leaf beetle, which are in the ground.
After using the drug, you can plant any varieties of cultivated plants. The herbicide does not accumulate in the soil. Completely safe for the human body. However, it is not recommended to spray weeds without protective agents. You need to wear at least gloves and a mask.
Bushido
It has a depressing effect on the nervous system, as a result of which the insect dies in just a day. The insecticide works well with almost all chemicals. Available in granular form. The treatment can be carried out at any stage of plant development.
The content of one package is enough to process 1 hectare of plantations. Toxic to bees, practically not dangerous to the human body. Bushido is an instant drug.
Tanrek
You can get rid of insects in a day.
Has a nerve effect on pests. In just a day, you can get rid of most of the insects. The solution should be used immediately after preparation.
Not compatible with preparations based on alkali and other acids. Processing should be carried out in protective clothing, in calm weather. Dangerous for bees and fish.
Bison
Systemic insecticide of contact-intestinal action. It has a depressing effect on the nervous system. Can be used in any weather. The agent is instantly absorbed into the tops and spreads throughout the plant, provides long-term protection, effectively kills not only adults, but also larvae.
It is forbidden to use the insecticide near apiaries and water bodies. Poisonous for fish and bees. Recommended for use in combination with Ridomil Gold.
Fufanon
A complex pesticide that degrades quickly in soil. Not phytotoxic, belongs to organophosphorus compounds. The agent not only penetrates the plant, but also spreads around it.
Pests get poisoned not only by feeding on tops and root crops, but also from the air. The death of insects occurs in 2-3 days. The effectiveness of the product in the open field lasts for a week in the absence of precipitation, in greenhouses for 5 days.
Folk remedies
The simplest pest defense is collecting the Colorado potato beetle.The method is effective for small numbers of insects on small plantations; in other cases, more serious protection measures need to be applied. It is simply impossible to collect all the insects, therefore, in the complex, other methods must be used against the malicious pest. Effective control of adult Colorado potato beetle and its larvae involves more than just the use of chemistry.
In the autumn after harvesting, it is recommended to carry out deep cultivation of the soil with the introduction of horse manure. Deep loosening of the soil allows you to get rid of adults. Ladybugs and ants are natural enemies of this parasite. With the help of these insects, you can permanently get rid of the merciless pest on potato plantations and eggplants.
You can remove parasites with the help of folk remedies. For large areas, they usually use:
- herbal infusions;
- dry processing;
- planting certain types of plants.
Herbal infusions
Natural infusions can be used multiple times
Herbal infusions are very often used against the Colorado potato beetle. They help not only prevent the attack of parasites, but also enrich the soil with useful vitamins and microelements. Insect repelled solutions based on tobacco root. For 10 liters of liquid, 0.5 kg of plant roots will be needed. You need to insist the solution for 2 days.
After preparation, the infusion should be diluted with liquid in proportions 1: 2 and rubbed with laundry soap. Decoctions of garlic and hot pepper give excellent results. Walnut infusion is often used against the Colorado potato beetle.
It is better to spray the tops after rain. Any natural infusion can be used several times per season in unlimited quantities, not just during flowering. A similar treatment is carried out if the pest has appeared on eggplants or tomatoes.
Dry processing
An excellent protection against the Colorado potato beetle is dusting with wood ash. The tops should be processed in the morning, when dew is on the leaves. Ash should be poured not only on the ground part of the plants, but also between the rows. Sawdust repels the insect. Sprinkling pine sawdust into the garden helps to quickly get rid of larvae and adults.
The fight against the Colorado potato beetle with corn flour is effective. It is best to dust the leaves with flour when dew is on them. The essence of the method is that under the influence of moisture, microparticles swell, and, once in the intestines of an insect, cause death.
Parasite repellent culture
The pest is very afraid of some plant species. Planting flowers around the perimeter of the garden will not only help get rid of the parasite, but also decorate the site. Among the enemies of the Colorado potato beetle are calendula, nasturtium, marigolds, coriander, night violet.
In addition to flowers, the insect's sworn enemies are garlic, onions, legumes, horseradish. All these crops repel the pest. You can use in combination the treatment of the seed with a disinfectant and the planting of repellent plants.
Non-standard method of destruction
Over the years, a wide variety of methods have been invented to combat the parasite. In the course of research, scientists found out that the insect, eating potato tops and berries, accumulates a poisonous substance in its body - solanine. Those who have been growing potatoes for a long time make a solution based on adults and larvae.
Insects are collected in a jar and poured with water, covered with a lid and left for several days. After 3 days, the liquid is decanted and diluted with water. Plants should be sprayed early in the morning. Spraying with undiluted solution is not recommended.
Generalized information
Wherever potatoes grow, in an open field or in a greenhouse, its main enemy is the leaf beetle. For a long time, people have come up with different ways to get rid of the insect. Today, you can find a ton of the latest insecticides on store shelves.Chemistry gets rid of the Colorado potato beetle very quickly, but is not suitable for every site. Most products are harmful to bees and fish.
In addition, to protect the plantings, you need to spray them at least 2 times per season. Chemicals can accumulate in tubers, so they can only be eaten 45-50 days after treatment. In some varieties, the ripening period is only 50-55 days, so it is recommended to use combined control methods.
Tubers should be treated at the time of planting. And during flowering, it is better to spray the ground part and water the plantings with a decoction of herbs or sprinkle with ash. In addition, ladybugs and ants, which are actively fighting the pest, should not be destroyed. It is recommended to plant flowers of night violet or calendula in the aisles and along the entire perimeter of potato plantations. During flowering, they emit a smell that scares off an intruder.