Today I noticed a bunch of reddish bugs with rows of black spots on their sides. I'm not sure what these bugs are but I'm suspecting them to be potato beetle larvas. What can I do to stop them? Please don't tell me to pick them off---I'm squeamish about bugs. Anything natural I can put on the plants to get rid of them? Will they ruin my potato crop? I am new to gardening, so this is all new to me. Thanks!

-- eightsmiths (eightsmiths@netzero.net), May 12, 2001

Answers

Well, I hate to say this, but that's actually what I usually do! Yes, it sounds like they are potato bug larvae and yes, they will eat all the foliage off the potato plants, eventually killing the plants. When they are done with your potatoes, they will move on to your tomatoes. After that I've heard that they'll move on to eggplant, although I've never experienced that. They can't really move around much so just put on a pair of gardening gloves and take a bucket of soapy water out there and pick them off, putting them in the water. Since they're so soft-bodied, maybe diatomaceous earth would work. Check back on some of the old forum sites about that. You could try letting some chickens solve the problem but I've noticed that when I try to let the chickens solve my gardening problems that they cause others (like eating all my greens). They do make great tillers though!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), May 12, 2001.

You definitely have potato beetle larvae and the best way I've found to get rid of them is to handpick them (my granddaughter love that job!). Get them before they pupate into the flying adults because they WILL move on to eggplants and sometimes tomato plants. They really are a disgusting creature, though, aren't they!!?

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), May 13, 2001.

I've heard that Bt works. Our gardens alive catalog suggests their Potato-shield which is a strain of Bt combined with other agents(?) which are toxic to the larvae. They claim it will not harm birds, beneficial insects or mammals and can be used up until harvest. Their web site is www.GardensAlive.com

Personally I also hand pick into a small container which I take to the chicken coop and share with my birds. I get a certain satisfaction from that! Kim

-- kim (fleece@eritter.net), May 13, 2001.

I, too, "hand pick" the larvae and the beetles off. You don't actually have to touch them to pick them off, they can be knocked off into a small container quite easily. My granddaughter does this and gets them out to the chickens--who, by the way, last year wouldn't touch them-but had in previous years-figure that out! Just give the plant or leaf a tap and they fall right in the container. Best to get them early, as well as any adult beetles you see. They can strip a plant almost overnight. Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), May 13, 2001.

I had a severe infestation of potato beetles last year, picked them every evening. Old timer here in Northern Pa. told me I can avoid potato beetles altogether by planting potatoes after June 15th (after the larva has gone through it's process.) Last year I also had a late planting of potatoes (after June 15th), and the potato beetles didn't infest that crop. Must be something to what the old timer told me! I'm new to potato planting too.

-- woodsbilly (coleenl@penn.com), May 13, 2001.

According to the book "Carrots Love Tomatoes" companion planting guide: eggplant is a trap for the colorado beetle, so if you plant this in the garden, it should lure the beetles to this plant instead of the potato plants. The book also suggests planting beans with the potatoes protects them against the colorado beetle and protects the beans against the mexican bean beetle. It also suggests that horseradish and flax planted in rows between the potatoes protects against the beetles and nightshade weed attracts potato bugs, which eat the weed and die (remember, nightshade is poisonous so wouldn't recommend if you have children visiting and tasting out of your garden). We're planting a good size potato crop this year and are going to try several of these. We'll have to compare notes at the end of the season to see what has worked.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), May 14, 2001.

Wow - so good to know I did the right things. I'll keep checking my plants for the next little while.

-- Sombra (Sombra.wilson@sk.sympatico.ca), July 19, 2001.