The Colorado potato beetle, aka Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, ten-lined potato beetle, and potato bug, is an agricultural pest that can be found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. As you would imagine, they are notorious for infesting and damaging potato crops. They are not evaluated by the IUCN. Colorado potato beetles are considered an invasive species that is unbelievably hard to control.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Weight: Up to 0.006 ounce
Length: Up to .5 inch
Lifespan: Up to 3 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These beetles were officially described in 1824 by American entomologist Thomas Say.
2.) This beetle larva has 4 instar stages: red-brick larvae, dark reddish larvae, salmon-colored larvae, and the most destructive stage, the humpbacked larvae.
3.) Their spread is rapid and ranges up to 87+ miles per year.
4.) They have the potential to spread to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.
5.) Females are capable of laying up to 500 eggs in up to a 5-week period.
But wait, there’s more on the Colorado potato beetle!
6.) They have the capability to go from egg to adult in just 21 days.
7.) While they primarily attack potato plants, other plants are also targeted.
Did you know…?
These insects are notorious for developing a resistance to over 50 different insecticide ingredients, making them an incredible agricultural challenge.
8.) Their predators include a multitude of other insects, such as predatory wasps, ladybugs, lacewings, and more.
9.) In response to the damage these insects do, some potatoes (such as the Russet Burbank potato) have been genetically modified to resist attacks and damage from these beetles.
10.) After the introduction of the modified gene, Russet Burbank potatoes with the gene were tested for kanamycin resistance and Colorado potato beetle resistance. Out of 308 plants that were tested, 18% (55) displayed total resistance to these beetles.
But wait, there’s still more on the Colorado potato beetle!
11.) Some potential sources of control for these beetles is the eulophid egg parasitoid. This parasitoid is capable of killing more than 80% of beetle eggs.
12.) During the Cold War, some countries in the Warsaw Pact made claim that these beetles were introduced by the CIA in an attempt to reduce food security by destroying the agriculture of the Soviet Union.
13.) In certain European cultures, these beetles are known as the ‘gourd beetle’ due to their likeness to various gourds of the Cucurbitaceae family.
Now a Short Colorado Potato Beetle Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
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