Colorado potato beetle

Colorado potato beetle insect mainly attacks potatoes, but also other plants of the Solanaceae family (e.g. tomato, pepper, eggplant).

Scientific name: Leptinotarsa decemlineata
Greek name: Δορυφόρος

Damage

Colorado potato beetle adults and larvae cause damage to leaves. In severe infestation the leaf disappears and only the nerves and stems remain on the plant. The insect is characterized by its orange-colored eggs, which it lays in clusters of 10-30 on the back of the leaf.

Enemy

The larvae reach a length of up to 15 mm, are reddish in color and have a row of black spots on each side. The abdomen is strongly curved and thick, but is thinned at the tip.

The adults (beetles) are 10 mm long and have yellow elytra with black stripes.

Notes

The appearance of the insect is favored by warm, dry weather. It is voracious and can reduce the leaf area of the plant to such an extent that the yield of potatoes is seriously affected.