Potato beetle

/pətˈeɪtəʊ bˈiːtəl/

/pətˈeɪɾoʊ bˈiːɾəl/

[noun]

Potato beetle

[NOUN]

a pest that feeds on potato plants, causing damage to the foliage and reducing crop yields

synonyms : Colorado beetle

Colorado potato beetle

Leptinotarsa decemlineata

potato bug

What is a "potato beetle"?

A potato beetle is a notorious pest that affects potato plants and other members of the nightshade family. This beetle is characterized by its distinctive yellow and black striped body and oval shape. Both the adult beetles and their larvae feed voraciously on the leaves and stems of potato plants, causing significant damage to the foliage. If left uncontrolled, potato beetle infestations can lead to reduced potato yields and crop loss. Effective pest management strategies, including cultural practices, biological control agents, and appropriate insecticides, are employed to prevent and mitigate the damage caused by potato beetles and protect potato crops.

Examples

1. That's lead to the rise of super bugs, such as the Colorado potato beetle, which is resistant to over 50 different insecticides.

2. Hank, grown-up potato beetles have hard shells, which makes it harder for predators to eat them, but baby potato beetles don't.

3. Hank, grown-up potato beetles have hard shells, which makes it harder for predators to eat them, but baby potato beetles don't.

4. If I know the farmer, and they say we're practicing IPM, Integrated Pest Management, or we're practicing organic practices, but we have a potato beetle problem, and we are once a year spraying something, I don't know what, on it.

Nearby words

potato

potassium hydrogen tartrate