Gardening in these warm months often times brings people an abundance of joy. But there are some aspects to gardening that try our patience. One of those variables, that often times show up unexpected, are pests! There are a whole slew of garden pests that we commonly see here in the North Country but at Osgood Farm, we are dealing with the infamous Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)! I often hear the question, “Where do they even come from!?” Well, the Colorado potato beetle adults overwinter in gardens, field margins, hedgerows, wind breaks, and you guessed it, potato fields! These little buggers become active in the spring, but for the Adirondacks, spring can mean a lot of things. Best to just keep an eye out for these pests about the same time that the potato plant breaks ground.
When identifying a pest problem within your garden, it’s most important to be able to properly identify the insects that may be causing the damage. Many gardeners can identify pest damage in one of two ways; you either are lucky enough to see the insect and squash it or you can observe the damage that has been done to your plants. Thankfully, as many of you probably know, the Colorado potato beetle is relatively easy to identify. They have an orange prothorax, which is the area located behind the head of the insect, and yellowish wing covers with black stripes.
Often times, gardeners will find the eggs which are bright orange, oval clusters found on the underside of your potato leaves. Before the potato beetle reaches full maturity, you may see some larvae that are red with black heads. These larvae change color as they age but can still be easily seen due to the two rows of spots on either side of their bodies. If not dealt with readily, by mid-summer, all stages of the Colorado potato beetles, eggs, and larvae can be present.
Here at Osgood Farm, chemical sprays are not an option for us. Where possible, we have been setting pest traps and barriers, using biological controls, and we are hoping to avoid having to use an organic spray. Treating for this specific type of insect can prove difficult. Due to the over-use and mismanagement of insecticides, the Colorado potato beetle has become known for its widespread insecticide resistance. This is why, here at Osgood, we are constantly looking for new and alternative ways to combat our pest problems and we hope that our viewers try and do the same!”
