No Potato Beetles this year - why?

tjg911 · July 24, 2007

I have seen perhaps as many as 16 CPB this year! I think it is between 12-16.

I have been monitoring the plants (Superior and Yukon Gold) and I have not seen 1 larvae and not 1 plant out of 26 or 28 shows any sign of the foliage being eaten by larave, have not sprayed with BT either.

So not that I am complaining (!) but why have there been NO CPB? This is really odd. I always have these pests but this year I've looked and found next to none.

Tom

Zark · July 5, 2012

I found four C P B when the potato plants were small, “several weeks ago.” I have not seen any since, or any larva. I have talked to others at work and they have few or none also. I am ok with this also. But why, do they run cycles where there are many, then years when there are few to none? Does anyone have the answer..
have a great day..

FarmerShawn · July 6, 2012

I think they must have all migrated north - to my garden. I am seeing more than ever, but it could be because the neighboring potato farm stopped growing potatoes this year, and the beetles are searching for tasty new digs.

Wi-sunflower · July 6, 2012

Or the came HERE.

We have seen TONS of them here and we don't even grow potatoes.

But we do grow eggplant and they like eggplant more than potatoes.

But this year most of them are in some kind of nightshade weed in the cabbage area, about 150 ft from the eggplant. It's not the usual nightshade that mimics pepper plants when young but more of a fuzzy leaved compact nightshade that looks more like it's in the eggplant family. There have been some in the eggplant, but not all that many so far, considering all of them in those weeds.

Ray dusted the eggplant with Sevin the other day and now there are almost none. I hope it stays that way for a long time.

Carol

kath · July 6, 2012

We haven't seen any in this part of PA, either, but they've been virtually absent here for the last couple years along with the asparagus beetles and Mexican bean beetles- I don't ask why- I'm just thankful and hope I won't regret "saying this out loud"!

Maybe the birds are just doing an outstanding job?

kath

Granite26 · July 6, 2012

I didnt grow spuds for three years hoping to break the cycle some. Nope

July 24, 2007	#1
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	No Potato Beetles this year - why? I have seen perhaps as many as 16 CPB this year! I think it is between 12-16. I have been monitoring the plants (Superior and Yukon Gold) and I have not seen 1 larvae and not 1 plant out of 26 or 28 shows any sign of the foliage being eaten by larave, have not sprayed with BT either. So not that I am complaining (!) but why have there been NO CPB? This is really odd. I always have these pests but this year I've looked and found next to none. Tom

July 5, 2012	#2
Zark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 5	Potato Beetles I found four C P B when the potato plants were small, “several weeks ago.” I have not seen any since, or any larva. I have talked to others at work and they have few or none also. I am ok with this also. But why, do they run cycles where there are many, then years when there are few to none? Does anyone have the answer.. have a great day..

July 6, 2012	#3
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I think they must have all migrated north - to my garden. I am seeing more than ever, but it could be because the neighboring potato farm stopped growing potatoes this year, and the beetles are searching for tasty new digs. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

July 6, 2012	#4
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Or the came HERE. We have seen TONS of them here and we don't even grow potatoes. But we do grow eggplant and they like eggplant more than potatoes. But this year most of them are in some kind of nightshade weed in the cabbage area, about 150 ft from the eggplant. It's not the usual nightshade that mimics pepper plants when young but more of a fuzzy leaved compact nightshade that looks more like it's in the eggplant family. There have been some in the eggplant, but not all that many so far, considering all of them in those weeds. Ray dusted the eggplant with Sevin the other day and now there are almost none. I hope it stays that way for a long time. Carol

July 6, 2012	#5
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	We haven't seen any in this part of PA, either, but they've been virtually absent here for the last couple years along with the asparagus beetles and Mexican bean beetles- I don't ask why- I'm just thankful and hope I won't regret "saying this out loud"! Maybe the birds are just doing an outstanding job? kath

July 6, 2012	#6
Granite26 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Western WI Posts: 359	I didnt grow spuds for three years hoping to break the cycle some. Nope