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Known for its voracious appetite, rapid reproduction, and ability to develop resistance to insecticides, the Colorado potato beetle poses a persistent challenge to potato farmers.
“It’s considered one of the most important pests of potatoes as it defoliates the plant, usually either by flight or by walking in the spring,” explains Christine Noronha, research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Charlottetown. “A single female beetle can lay about 500 eggs over a four-week timespan. You can imagine how fast the population would grow if each female lays 500 eggs.”
Fortunately for growers, the research community and industry work tirelessly to develop new options and control methods.
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