Colorado potato beetle, struggle with it: about the life of a gardener

The Colorado potato beetle, the fight against it, take a lot of time and energy from summer residents. But not everyone knows that this striped "gourmet" used to be completely harmless. He lived in the USA, and ate the leaves of wild plants. But in 1859 his eating habits changed dramatically. And after the devastation of the potato fields in Colorado, he got his name - the Colorado potato beetle. The fight with him has since been a priority for any gardener.

Timely identification of this pest is not difficult if you carefully examine the planting of potatoes and other crops in warm sunny weather. It is during this period that the beetles are most active. If the first pests and their larvae are found, they must be collected manually, folding in a container filled with a strong solution of ordinary table salt (about 2-3 tbsp. Per liter). Egg-laying is usually torn along with leaflets, however, they can also be crushed. If the number of beetles is too large, then you should lay a film on the ground, and then hit the bush, for example, with a broom. Now you can destroy the fallen Colorado beetles. Pay close attention to young larvae. They begin sabotage immediately and usually act during the period when potato budding and partial flowering occur.

Biological and environmental means of combating the Colorado potato beetle

Experienced gardeners are able to give a lot of advice that will help beginners in pest control:

1. Option one: dusting the beds with potatoes ash (you need to use about a bucket of ash for one hundred plantings).
2. Option two: spray with chamomile infusion. The recipe for its preparation is as follows: about 250 grams of slightly dried flowers must be poured with a liter of warm water, then insist for about two hours, strain thoroughly and add a couple drops of any liquid soap. For one hundredth of landings you will need about 5 liters of the resulting infusion.

Colorado potato beetle: chemicals control measures

Gardeners with experience actively use in practice such means as Decis, Confidor, Pirinex and others. If we talk about the use of insecticides, then you should know that they are ineffective when exposed to adult beetles. And here the measure is important. The site should be treated no more than twice a season. Before using any drug, you must definitely see what is written in the instructions. In this case, unacceptable initiative regarding the timing of use and doses. In this case, it is necessary to use protective clothing, gloves, carefully protect the organs of vision and breathing. The Colorado potato beetle brings a lot of trouble. The fight with him must be competent. The last treatment of plantings with chemicals is carried out three weeks before the harvest. It is recommended to alternate drugs, since the Colorado potato beetles are opportunists, they get used to even potent remedies.

Folk remedies

There are methods of struggle and more simple, familiar to the average person. Suppose haters of chemistry can plant marigold seedlings at the edges of the beds and inside the plantings themselves. Beetles do not tolerate the smell of this plant.

Thus, the Colorado potato beetle, the fight against it will not become a problem if you correctly approach the protection of your site from pests.