Insect · GBIF taxon 1047536
Colorado Potato Beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineataAlso known as Colorado Beetle, Ten-striped Spearman, Potato Bug
Colorado potato beetles are notorious agricultural pests renowned for their ability to rapidly develop resistance to chemical insecticides. Adults and reddish larvae feed voraciously on nightshade foliage, particularly potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes, capable of defoliating entire crops. Females lay clusters of bright yellow orange eggs on the undersides of leaves, starting a cycle of multiple generations in a single warm season.
Crop PestStripedInsect
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Potato Foliage
- Eggplant Foliage
- Tomato Foliage
Predators
- Spined Soldier Bug
- Ladybug
- Birds
ThreatsPesticides, biological control agents, and crop rotation
HabitatsAgricultural fields, gardens, and grassy fields
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyChrysomelidae
- GenusLeptinotarsa
- SpeciesLeptinotarsa decemlineata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting adults: Search the undersides of potato leaves in late spring for striped adults and orange egg clusters.
- Garden management: Handpick beetles and larvae into soapy water to manage small garden infestations naturally.
Predator (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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