Effective preparations and remedies for the Colorado potato beetle

The use of pesticides is the main way to combat the Colorado potato beetle, especially in the southern regions. All these drugs and products are used both on potatoes and other crops damaged by the pest.

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Classification of insecticides

    By method of influence

1. System. The substance penetrates the conducting system of the plant and spreads through the vessels throughout the above-ground and sometimes underground parts. By eating leaves, beetles and larvae absorb poison along with them, leading to their death. They are not washed off by rain and are destroyed within the plant itself after a certain time. It is forbidden to treat potatoes with systemic drugs after flowering, as the active substance may get into the tubers.
2. Contact. Leads to irreversible changes when the pest comes into contact with the treated plant or the working solution gets directly onto the insect’s body. Contact insecticides remain on the treated green mass and are easily washed off when watering or rain.
3. Intestinal. Remains on the surface of leaves and stems. When they are eaten, the pests are poisoned and die. The drugs either do not penetrate into plants at all, or penetrate partially, but do not spread along the conducting paths. Can be washed off by rain and watering.

Currently, combined contact-intestinal pesticides are produced. They act both on the skin of the insect and cause poisoning when eating treated plants. The result of the action depends entirely on the quality of processing.

    By processing method

1. Dressing agents treat planting material. All disinfectants are systemic drugs.
2. Preparations for treatment during the growing season.

Preparations for pre-planting treatment of potatoes

From a safety point of view, they are the best drugs for combating the Colorado potato beetle, since they reliably protect potatoes. The period of protective action is quite long: from 20 to 50 days from germination. On early potatoes, disinfectants are completely destroyed by the time the tops wither and do not accumulate in young tubers. To protect potatoes of medium and late varieties, additional treatments are carried out during the growing season.

In addition to protecting against the Colorado potato beetle, disinfectants protect the crop from soil-dwelling pests, and some of them have a fungicidal and stimulating effect.

Prestige

An enteric-contact and systemic imported pesticide that has an insecticidal, fungicidal and weak stimulating effect. Protects the crop from soil pests (wireworms, beetles, mole crickets), as well as from the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and leafhoppers.

The seed material is either soaked or sprayed. Soak the tubers in the working solution for 15-20 minutes, after which the potatoes are dried. For spraying, the seed material is laid out on a flat surface and processed. After the tubers dry, they are turned over to the other side and sprayed again.

Treatment is carried out before planting. The working solution is red in color and after it dries, a thin reddish film forms on the tubers.

The period of protective action is up to 2 months. When used as a disinfectant, Prestige exhibits only a systemic effect, moving along the conducting vessels of the tops.When the leaves are eaten, the beetles and larvae die.

Used on mid-season and late varieties. It is not used for early varieties, since the decay period exceeds the growing season of early potatoes.

Commander

Domestic fairly new pesticide with enteric contact and systemic action. The drug works great when spraying tops during the growing season, but it can also be used to treat tubers before planting, since it spreads along the conductive paths. The effect lasts up to 2 months.

The commander also works in hot weather; it can be used in the south on the hottest days. This distinguishes it from other insecticides, the effect of which is reduced to zero at temperatures above 32°C.

For pickling, the tubers are soaked in the working solution for 10 minutes, then dried. You can also spray the seed material. The treatment is carried out either 3-4 days before planting, and then the tubers are thoroughly dried, or immediately before planting.

It is not advisable to either pickle or process potatoes during the growing season. early varieties, since by the time of harvesting the active substance can still remain in the tubers.

Taboo

Systemic protectant that protects potatoes for 30-35 days after germination. Processing of seed material is carried out immediately before planting.

The effect of the drug on the Colorado potato beetle does not decrease even in hot weather, so it, along with Commander, is an effective means of controlling the pest in the southern regions.

Matador

An enteric-contact systemic pesticide with insecticidal and fungicidal effects. The drug does not accumulate in tubers and is well compatible with fungicides and growth regulators. The period of protective action is 1-1.5 months.

Seed tubers are sprayed with a working solution on the day of planting, dried for 2 hours and planted.

Force

Imported insecticide, fumigant. Being in the soil it releases gas, which leads to the death of pests. It is used on plots that are annually subjected to a large invasion of Colorado potato beetles. Added to a hole or boletus when planting.

In the spring, when Colorado potato beetles emerge on the surface in places where the drug is located, it penetrates the skin of the pest, causing its death.

A significant disadvantage is that the drug has an effect only where it is located. Beetles that climb to the surface outside the Force's area of ​​effect do not die.

The pesticide is an addition to systemic medications and is used on fields heavily infested with the pest.

Preparations for treatment during the growing season

Used throughout the entire growing season in the presence of Colorado potato beetles and their larvae in the potato field. Mainly affects insects and does not affect eggs.

Sonnet

A new generation insecticide with enteric contact action. It affects the chitinous cover of insects, destroying it. Larvae and eggs die on contact. Adult beetles lose the ability to reproduce. The eggs they lay become sterile.

Sonnet can dramatically reduce the number of pests over large areas. Does not lose its effectiveness at high temperatures. Treatment is carried out once per season when Colorado potato beetles appear on the plot. It has a long-lasting effect, which ensures the destruction of colorados and their larvae in large quantities.

Does not cause resistance in the pest. In addition to colorados, it acts on the codling moth. Safe for other insects and humans, does not wash off in the rain.

Aktara

Enteric-contact and systemic pesticide. The working solution very quickly penetrates the leaves and spreads along the plant’s conductive pathways. When larvae and beetles eat leaves, the nervous system is affected. They stop feeding 15 minutes after the drug is ingested, although they die only after 24 hours.

The product is not washed off by rain. It can be used 2 hours before watering or rain. Duration of action is 25-30 days. The drug does not penetrate the tubers, spreading only through the above-ground parts of the plants. Used to control a wide range of pests.

Killer

Broad-spectrum enteric and systemic pesticide. In addition to the Colorado potato beetle, it destroys aphids, whiteflies, whiteflies and other pests. Affects larvae and adults. Resistant to high temperatures, not washed off by rain and irrigation water. If it comes into contact with oviposition, it destroys 50% of eggs.

Duration of action is 1.5-2 months, beetles die within 24 hours after treatment, larvae die after 6-10 hours.

Corado

Enteric-contact and systemic pesticide. It has an unpleasant odor and is washed off the leaves during heavy rainfall. With light rainfall and watering, it is washed off gradually, its effect decreases. The activity of the drug decreases at temperatures above 32°C. Used against a wide range of pests.

It is not recommended to process potatoes during flowering, since the active ingredient of the drug, imidacloprid, is dangerous for bees, and they are attracted to potato flowers.

A few hours after treatment, the beetle larvae stop feeding and die.

Sumi alpha

Highly effective enteric-contact pesticide with broad action. The drug has a high initial activity, which gradually decreases. Duration of action is 15 days. Gradually washed away by precipitation and watering.

Has high contact activity. Beetles that did not feed on potato leaves, but only came into contact with the tops, die within 5-6 hours. Actively feeding larvae die within 0.5-2 hours. During the season, several treatments are carried out with an interval of 15 days.

Used in areas with moderate pest spread: Non-Black Earth Region, northern Black Earth Zone. In the event of a massive pest invasion, the effectiveness decreases due to the short period and a significant decrease in the activity of the substance towards the end of the period of action.

Spark

Iskra is a trade name under which 4 different drugs with different active ingredients are produced. “Iskra double effect” and “Iskra golden” are suitable for combating the Colorado potato beetle.

Enteric-contact pesticide against the Colorado potato beetle and other leaf-eating insects. They are most effective at temperatures above 25°C; at temperatures of 14-18°C, effectiveness decreases.

Powder and emulsions dissolve well and mix with water. The tablet is dissolved in 200-400 ml of water, heated to 30-35 ° C for half an hour, since it dissolves slowly. The spark is washed away by showers, but in light rain it remains on the tops. Dangerous for bees. Affects larvae, to a lesser extent beetles, does not affect eggs.

Biological products

Biological products are used in areas with low pest prevalence in cases where manual collection is not possible. When pests spread massively, biological products are ineffective, since the rate of reproduction of colorados is several times higher than the rate of action of the drug.

Biostop

A complex biological product containing bacteria, natural neurotoxins and fungal spores. Causes the death of larvae. It affects beetles only if they fed on treated leaves. Does not affect eggs.

Can be used in any phase of the growing season at a temperature of 18-25°C. The death of pests occurs after 3-5 days. Validity period: 7-10 days. Frequency of treatments 4-7 times per season.

NO Colorado potato beetle

A natural insecticide containing oil of azadirachta, a plant native to India. After processing the potatoes, the larvae stop feeding and die within 1-3 days. In adults, the reproduction process is disrupted. Valid for 7 days. Safe for humans and animals.

Conclusion

There are many remedies for the Colorado potato beetle. Their choice depends on the prevalence of the pest, the length of the potato growing season and the temperature, since many drugs do not act on pests at moderate (18°C) and high (30-32°C) temperatures.