Scourge of the Vegetable Garden - Potato Bugs

Some of the most hated garden pests are potato bugs (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Also known as the Colorado Potato Bug or the Jerusalem cricket, these bugs kill potato plants by eating the potato leaves, leaving the plant unable to produce chlorophyll. These bugs look similar to crickets but with an orange-yellow body with a tan head, and commonly grow to around 1/3” (around 50 mm) but can grow to 2 ”. Native to North America, these bugs wreak destruction on not only potatoes but also tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, tobacco and other species belonging to the nightshade family.

There are various ways to kill these bugs. If the infestation is not too large, you can pick the bugs, eggs and larva off the plant and manually squash them, or drown them in a tin of kerosene. You can also keep chickens in your potato patch to eat the pests. If you find that your potatoes are infested every season, you can try planting your seed potatoes in a different location each year, as the bugs 'hibernate' in patches of soil.

Taking More Serious Measures

If you have a large infestation of bugs, or simply don’t have the time for manual destruction, you can use pesticides like Pyrethrum or organo-phosphates on your potatoes, making sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely. If you do not wish to use chemicals, you can also try introducing Lady bugs or Stink bugs to your garden, which can sometimes be purchased from mail order or internet garden supply merchants.

Growing vegetables is a great past-time with many rewards, but there are also the downsides, and pest control when you are infested with bugs such as these is a necessary evil. While you may think you have cured yourself of these potato eating monsters one year, they can easily return in later seasons so it is always a good idea to be vigilant and inspect your potato plants as soon as they start growing.

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