Banch auger;Get rid of the Colorado potato beetle without the use of special tools is quite difficult. The invasion of the pest begins in the spring, and experienced growers are advised to use a remedy for the Colorado potato beetle at this stage. These parasites can destroy the entire crop of potatoes. Potato Pest - Colorado potato beetle
The adult pest is a beetle about 1 cm in size. It has characteristic black stripes on its shell. Not only adults, but also the larvae of this parasite pose a great threat to the crop. The parasite is able to endure the winter period - an adult individual pests its way under the soil and returns to active life only in the spring.
The larva of the Colorado potato beetle is not able to survive the winter and dies at the first frost. Coming out of hibernation, the beetle is able to overcome more than 1 km per day in search of food. It is believed that the Colorado potato beetle can only eat potato leaves, but this view is not entirely true. The pest feeds on all the plants of the Solanaceae type - pepper, tomatoes, eggplants, etc. But they pose the greatest danger to the young shoots of potatoes. Read also about the May beetle on our site!
During its life cycle, one female beetle lays about 500 eggs in small clutches of 20 pieces each. The larvae of the pest that hatched from these eggs are the greatest threat. The development of larvae lasts about 3 weeks, after which they hide under the ground for further pupation. But these 3 weeks are usually enough to destroy the entire crop.
Fighting the Colorado potato beetle with chemicals
The most effective against the pest are chemicals from the Colorado potato beetle, of which there are a great many on the market today. Many of the drugs do not pose a risk to human health. It is only necessary to observe precautions and follow the instructions.
Read also: Fighting a medvedka in the garden is one of the obligatory stages of growing healthy plants
Biological preparation “Colorado potato beetle NO”
Before starting to describe chemical pest control products, I would like to mention a new product on the market, called the biological product of the new generation. This tool consists of organic substances that are completely safe for the human body. The drug is produced in France and on the market in Russia is not so easy to find.
The main active ingredient of the drug is the oil of Azadirachta Indian. The tool repels insects, it prevents the reproduction of adult beetles and adversely affects the development of larvae. The Colorado potato beetle is processed three times per season. It is necessary to dilute the substance in water. The ratio of drug to water should be 1:40.
Dates and quantities of treatments:
- The first time the potatoes are processed before planting from the Colorado potato beetle. The sprayer handles the well in which the potatoes are placed.
- The second treatment is done at the time of the first shoots.
- The third, final treatment takes place two weeks after the second spraying of the shoots.
About 10 ml of the product is used per one hundred square meters of land. That is, 30 ml of “Colorado potato beetle NO” is required for three treatments. There are still few reviews from real users, but the majority declares that this is a reliable protection from the Colorado potato beetle.
The following discussion will focus on the chemical preparations that have scored the most real reviews on the web. The market provided a huge variety of drugs that differ in both price and method of action. In such a variety is easy to get confused. Unscrupulous manufacturers, who very often hide the side effects of the released drugs, also spoil the picture.
Bordeaux mixture
The Bordeaux mixture, which is completely harmless to humans and has an excellent effect, has received the greatest popularity among modern vegetable growers. When the growth of young shoots of potatoes is about 15-25 cm, it is necessary to process the crop with Bordeaux mixture.
Read also: Cherry diseases and control: photo and description
Terms and procedure for processing:
- When first treated, dilute the following solution: 150 grams of lime per 150 g of copper sulfate and 10 liters of water.
- The second treatment is carried out exactly in 12 days with a solution of 200 g of lime, 200 g of copper sulphate and 10 liters of water.
- A third treatment may be necessary. For this, 200 grams of lime per 200 g of copper sulphate and 10 liters of water are used again.
This tool will help get rid not only of the Colorado potato beetle, but also from the common potato disease - phytophthora.
"Prestige COP" from Bayer
The means from the Colorado potato beetle "Prestige COP" from the German manufacturer Bayer is now gaining more and more popularity among vegetable growers. The composition of this tool contains two active substances:
- fungicide-pencycuron;
- insecticide imidacloprid.
The first substance is aimed at protecting potatoes from various diseases, and the second is fighting pests."Prestige COP" has a pronounced anti-stress effect, and also stimulates plants to active growth. Among all the drugs that currently exist on the market, Prestige COP is one of the most expensive.
Insecticide fights against wireworm, Colorado potato beetle, Medvedka, aphids, various carriers of viruses, as well as diseases such as rhizoctoniosis and common scab.
The manufacturer’s instructions state that potato tubers should be processed in a grid or in boxes. This process must be carried out in order to distribute the agent evenly over the tubers. However, if the seed tubers have already sprouted, then they should not be treated in this way. It is enough to spray potatoes in the hole.
Let the customer not be confused by the bright crimson color of the product, which becomes not so saturated after preparing the solution. Potatoes after processing will also turn into the color of the substance. The manufacturer claims that the tool protects the potato tubers from pests for 50 days, and from diseases for 40 days from the date of application of the solution.
Read also: For orchards in the Moscow region, excellent varieties of cherry plum
are derived. Only after 50 days does the remedy break up into harmless compounds. The instructions say that potatoes can only be eaten 50 days after planting the tubers. Many vegetable growers are alarmed by this fact, however, the producers claim that the drug rises to the leaves along the stem during the growth of the plant. The insecticide cannot get inside the young tubers, since it does not take part in the process of photosynthesis.
The action of poison from the Colorado potato beetle ends on the 50th day. From this moment on, the leaves become edible again for pests.
Certainly, parasites by this moment do not pose any danger for potatoes, as the tubers have already started. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the second wave of the Colorado potato beetle will go to the ground for the winter, and will reappear in the spring. This insecticide will not help from pests in the new season, but will allow to grow healthy potatoes in the current. To protect against the second wave of the Colorado potato beetle, the bushes should be treated with another preparation.
Bankol
Another effective remedy for the Colorado potato beetle that allows you to get rid of both adults and young pests after the first spraying - Bankol. Sold in packs of 500 g. It is a wettable powder.
The main advantage of this preparation is that the pest larvae immediately die after the leaves are treated with the preparation. This poison from the Colorado potato beetle does not require re-treatment.
The main disadvantage of this drug is that it extinguishes the reproductive function of potatoes. Manufacturers claim that the substance decomposes into safe components one week after processing. This drug is ideal for those who do not leave seed potatoes.
Top 5 Best Products from the Colorado potato beetle - video
