The Indestructible Colorado Potato Beetle

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Since the Colorado potato beetle managed to cross the ocean, it has become increasingly difficult for Potatoes to please us with rich crops. On his own, he cannot cope with a prolific and gluttonous beetle, and therefore a person comes to the aid of Potatoes. But even the "crown" of nature cannot defeat the tenacious insect. Although to spoil his life and reduce the hordes of the invaders of the potato fields is up to a man

At first, the American continent shared with the Europeans such a wonderful plant as the Potato, but then he regretted his generosity and sent a vicious scout to the potato fields. A very cute little bug turned out to be so gluttonous that it leaves lifeless fields after its summer meals where it does not meet any resistance.

People have to invent countermeasures, periodically changing strategy and tactics so that the beetle does not have time to get used to innovations and learns to coexist with them. After all, aggressors, as a rule, are very resourceful, cunning and insidious.

Spring chores

The March sun is baking, reminding farmers that very soon the earth will be ready to receive seeds and roots in order to give a person a new harvest.

But insects, hiding in secluded corners, are also actively preparing for the spring in order to saturate their organisms hungry during the winter with young foliage. Among them is a yellow-striped overseas alien.

* To deceive the gluttonous intruder, we plant a few sprouted potatoes in the already slightly warmed soil. Hungry beetles will certainly gather on the emerging seedlings. We quickly collect them and send them to the fire. It is a pity, of course, for such a living beauty, but the harvest is more expensive.

* Another method of catching parasites is suitable for those who are rich in potato peels. A couple of buckets of peelings are laid out in piles on a potato field, while the seedlings are just preparing to appear in the world. Beetles together pounce on the bait and become victims of fire. It is advised to pour kerosene over the cleaning and set them on fire along with the beetles. In my opinion, it is better to carefully collect these piles with beetles in a bucket and send them to a hot oven. At the same time, the stove will also be free of winter soot accumulated in the stove and chimney. Connoisseurs consider potato peels to be an excellent oven cleaner.

* There is another method of dealing with the Colorado potato beetle in the spring. This will require a solution of urea and potatoes, cut into wedges. After soaking the slices in solution for 1 day, they are laid out overnight or on a cloudy day on a potato field. After eating such a treat, the beetles die.

* They say that beetles very quickly get used to new smells, which at first scare them away from potato rows. But, nevertheless, it is better not to be lazy and plant marigolds, spring garlic, beans, beans next to the potatoes. Suddenly, beetles live on your site that have not yet had time to get used to the smell of these plants. And the beans will also enrich the soil with nitrogen.

Summer chores

* If in the spring it was not possible to completely deal with the beetle, in the summer, when the potatoes are covered with lush foliage, other methods of struggle are used. Here, infusions from various herbs are used: wormwood, tansy, leaves and stepchildren of tomatoes, arrows or heads of garlic, which are sprayed with potato bushes. You can add a little wood ash to the herbal infusions.

* Some agrotechnical techniques help in the fight against the American guest performer. One of them is the high hilling of potato bushes during the period when the female beetle lays eggs.

Autumn chores

* A couple of weeks before harvesting potatoes, the tops are mowed and removed from the potato field, arranging a hunger strike for the beetle before wintering, which will greatly undermine its strength.

* You can repeat the spring method by laying out urea-soaked potato wedges overnight.

* In late autumn, dig deep into the potato plot, depriving the beetles of the chance for life, which managed to hide for wintering in the soil.

* Do not forget to evenly scatter wood ash over the area, which will help in the fight against the beetle and fertilize the soil.

Summary

The above methods of dealing with annoying insects are simple, affordable and relatively effective. The main thing is to take them into account and do not forget to put them into practice for other summer cottages.