Pests | Crop Protection Guide for Potatoes

Colorado Potato Beetle(Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

General Description

Colorado potato beetles (CPBs) overwinter as adult beetles in the soil (about 8-16 inches deep) in the previous year's potato fields. They emerge in the spring to feed, mate, and lay eggs (up to 1,000 eggs per female in masses of 20-50 eggs). Larvae hatch from eggs, feed and grow through four larval instars, and then drop to the ground to pupate and start the cycle over again. They can have up to three generations in a year.

Damage: Adults and larvae can cause complete defoliation and nearly complete crop loss if allowed to reproduce unchecked. Larvae are more voracious than adults.

Scouting: CPBs are easy to scout. Look for them on plants near the edge of potato fields, and on volunteer potatoes in other crops (volunteer potatoes can serve as important refuge for CPBs and a source of delayed infestations). Adult beetles are about 0.5-inches long, with an orange-and-black head and yellow-and-black striped wings. Once you find adults, look for egg masses. Their oval eggs are yellow-to-orange in color. Scout often for larvae once you find eggs. Newly hatched larvae have black heads and reddish-orange abdomens. As they age, they get bigger and lighter in color with distinct black dots on their sides.

Registered Pesticides

Stage of Development: Planting to Pre-emergence
Pesticide	MOA¹	Efficacy²	Rate per Acre³	REI⁴	PHI⁵	Notes
Platinum 75 SG thiamethoxam	4A	E	1.66-2.67 oz	12 h		Don't be alarmed to find newly emerged adult beetles alive on treated plants, because it can take days for them to start feeding, ingest the insecticide, and then die. But if larvae are found on treated plants, then the product residual is probably no longer active.
Admire Pro (soil application) imidacloprid	4A	E	5.7-8.7 fl oz	12 h		Don’t be alarmed to find newly emerged adult beetles alive on treated plants, because it can take days for them to start feeding, ingest the insecticide, and then die. But if larvae are found on treated plants, then the product residual is probably no longer active.
Belay (soil application) clothianidin	4A	E	9-12 fl oz	12 h		Don’t be alarmed to find newly emerged adult beetles alive on treated plants, because it can take days for them to start feeding, ingest the insecticide, and then die. But if larvae are found on treated plants, then the product residual is probably no longer active.
Thimet 20-G SmartBox phorate	1	G-F	See Label	72 h	90 d	Expect only 50 days of residual control.

Stage of Development: Planting to Pre-emergence

Colorado Potato Beetle

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4 Notes

Applications and Notes » Pest Info »

¹Mode of action. NC = not classified..
² Efficacy ratings denote the relative ability of a pesticide to control its target. The ratings are E = excellent, G = good, F = fair/suppression; P = poor, and ND = no data. Efficacy ratings are based on the inherent toxicity of the pesticide against its target, the likelihood that the target will contact or ingest the product as applied, duration of impact on the target, and undesired effects, such as negative impacts on natural enemies that could lead to future pest outbreaks.
³ Rate per acre per application. Refer to the product label for maximum use rate per season.
⁴ Reentry interval.
⁵The minimum pre-harvest interval. Some products do not list PHI.
Note: always read and follow the directions on the pesticide label.

Stage of Development: Emergence to Row Closure
Pesticide	MOA¹	Efficacy²	Rate per Acre³	REI⁴	PHI⁵	Notes
Vydate C-LV oxamyl	1A	G	0.5-2.1 pt	48 h	7 d	Apply when 50% of eggs have hatched and most larvae are small. Expect 7-14 days of residual control.
Admire Pro (foliar) imidacloprid	4A	G	1.3 fl oz	12 h	7 d	Apply to foliage when about 50% of the eggs have hatched larvae are small.
Lannate LV methomyl	1A	G	1.5-3.0 pt	48 h	6 d	The label doesn’t mention CPBs, but applications made to target other pests will control beetles and larvae. It will also knockback some predator insects.
Blackhawk spinosad	5	G	1.7-3.3 oz	4 h	7 d	Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched and most larvae are small. Do not apply to consecutive generations of CPB.
Vantacor chlorantraniliprole	28	E	1.2-2.5 fl oz	4 h	14 d	Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched and most larvae are small. Don’t apply more than once via chemigation for CPBs.
Rimon novaluron	15	G	6-12 fl oz	12 h	14 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small. Use higher rates and higher spray volumes when larvae are large.
Asana XL esfenvalerate	3	G	5.8-9.6 fl oz	12 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Agri-Mek SC abamectin	6	G	1.75-3.5 fl oz	12 h	14 d	Apply when 50% of eggs have hatched and larvae are small. If two applications are needed, limit them to a single CPB generation.
Brigade 2EC bifenthrin	3	G	2.1-6.4 fl oz	12 h	21 d	CPBs are on the label but not in the potato section. Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Athena abamectin (avermectin) and bifenthrin	3, 6	G	7-17 fl oz	12 h	21 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Baythroid XL beta-cyfluthrin	3	G	1.6-2.8 fl oz	12 h	0 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Warrior II lambda-cyhalothrin	3	G	1.28-1.92 fl oz	24 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Mustang Maxx zeta-cypermethrin	3	G	3.2-4.0 fl oz	12 h	1 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Imidan 70-W phosmet	1B	G-F	1.33 lb	5 d	7 d	Apply when about 50% of eggs have hatched and larvae are small for knockback control.
Torac tolfenpyrad	21A	E	14-21 fl oz	12 h	14 d	Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched for best results. Rapid anti-feeding activity. It controls eggs, larvae, and adults.
Exirel cyantraniliprole	28	E	5-15.5 fl oz	12 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small. Do not apply more than once via chemigation for CPBs.
Minecto Pro abamectin, cyantraniprole	6, 28	E	5.5 to 10 fl oz	12 h	14 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small. Don’t apply more than twice to a generation of CPB, or within any 30-day period.
Sivanto 200 SL flupyradifurone	4D	G	10.5-14 fl oz	4 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small.
Avaunt Insecticide indoxacarb	22	E-G	3.5-6 oz	12 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small.
Radiant SC spinetoram	5	G	4.5-8 fl oz	4 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small.
Delegate WG spinetoram	5	G	2.25-4 oz	4 h	7 d	Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small.
Assail 70WP acetamiprid	4A	E	0.6-1.7 oz	12 h	7 d	Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched larvae are small.
Actara thiamethoxam	4A	E	1.5-3 oz	12 h	14 d	Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched larvae are small.
Harvanta 50SL cyclaniliprole	28	E	5.5-10.9 fl oz	4 h	7 d	See Section 2(ee) Recommendation. Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small.
Leverage 360 beta-cyfluthrin, imidacloprid	3, 4	G	2.8 fl oz	12 h	7 d	Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Brigadier bifenthrin, imidacloprid	3, 4A	G	4.8-6.14 fl oz	12 h	21 d	Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.
Cormoran novaluron, acetamidiprid	15, 4A	E	6-12 fl oz	12 h	14 d	Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small. Don’t apply to successive generations of CPB.
Entrust SC Naturalyte Insect Control spinosad	5	G		4 h	7 d	Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are very small.
Aza-Direct azadirachtin	NC	F	1-3.5 pt	4 h	0 d	Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are very small. If needed, follow-up with 2-3 applications at 7-10 day intervals.
Neemix 4.5 IGR azadirachtin	NC	F	4-10 fl oz	4 h	0 d	Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are very small. If needed, follow-up with 2-3 applications at 7-10 day intervals.
Trident Biological Insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis ssp.	11	ND	3-6 qt	4 h	0 d	Apply as soon as eggs begin to hatch. Larvae stop eating within a few hours, and they die within 2-4 days.
PyGanic Crop Protection EC 5.0 pyrethrins	3A	F	4.5-15.61 fl oz	12 h	0 d	Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are first instars. Don’t wait until plants are heavily infested. Don’t apply to consecutive generations of CPB.
Calantha ledprona	35	E	12-16 fl oz	4 hr		Apply at 25% egg hatch. This product will work on all life stages (except eggs) but is most effective against small larvae (up to 1/4 inch).

Stage of Development: Emergence to Row Closure

Colorado Potato Beetle

0 Product Choices

79 Notes

Applications and Notes » Pest Info »

Notes: Apply at 25% egg hatch. This product will work on all life stages (except eggs) but is most effective against small larvae (up to 1/4 inch).

Notes: Apply when 50% of eggs have hatched and most larvae are small. Expect 7-14 days of residual control.

Notes: Apply to foliage when about 50% of the eggs have hatched larvae are small.

Notes: The label doesn’t mention CPBs, but applications made to target other pests will control beetles and larvae. It will also knockback some predator insects.

Notes: Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched and most larvae are small. Do not apply to consecutive generations of CPB.

Notes: Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched and most larvae are small. Don’t apply more than once via chemigation for CPBs.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small. Use higher rates and higher spray volumes when larvae are large.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.

Notes: Apply when 50% of eggs have hatched and larvae are small. If two applications are needed, limit them to a single CPB generation.

Notes: CPBs are on the label but not in the potato section. Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch while larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.

Notes: Apply when about 50% of eggs have hatched and larvae are small for knockback control.

Notes: Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched for best results. Rapid anti-feeding activity. It controls eggs, larvae, and adults.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small. Do not apply more than once via chemigation for CPBs.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small. Don’t apply more than twice to a generation of CPB, or within any 30-day period.

Notes: Apply at 50% egg hatch when larvae are small.

Notes: Apply when about 50% of the eggs have hatched larvae are small.

Notes: See Section 2(ee) Recommendation. Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small.

Notes: Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small, but only if it’s before mid-June.

Notes: Apply at 50% eggs hatch when larvae are small. Don’t apply to successive generations of CPB.

Notes: Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are very small.

Notes: Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are very small. If needed, follow-up with 2-3 applications at 7-10 day intervals.

Notes: Apply as soon as eggs begin to hatch. Larvae stop eating within a few hours, and they die within 2-4 days.

Notes: Apply at 30% egg hatch when larvae are first instars. Don’t wait until plants are heavily infested. Don’t apply to consecutive generations of CPB.

Notes: Apply at 25% egg hatch. This product will work on all life stages (except eggs) but is most effective against small larvae (up to 1/4 inch).