How to Get Rid of Colorado Potato Beetles

Confirm you have Colorado potato beetles

Start by confirming the bug. Colorado Potato Beetles have a few features that set them apart. Adults measure 9–11 mm (up to about 0.43 in) and are usually yellow, orange and black. Look for these features:

• Ten black lengthwise stripes on yellowish wing covers
• Orange head and thorax with black spots
• Clusters of bright orange eggs under leaves

See the full Colorado potato beetle profile for more photos-to-check details and a size chart.

Why you have Colorado potato beetles

Colorado Potato Beetles are drawn to the specific plants they feed on and multiply quickly in warm weather. Planting the same crop in the same bed each year makes outbreaks worse. Broad-spectrum sprays can kill the predators that would otherwise keep them in check. They are most active in spring and summer, so expect to see more of them then.

When you'll see Colorado potato beetles

Colorado Potato Beetles are most active in spring and summer. In spring, overwintering adults become active and many species lay their first eggs. Summer heat speeds up development, so populations can grow quickly.

Typical places to check: garden or plants.

Step-by-step: getting rid of Colorado potato beetles

Step 1: Hand-pick adults

Hand-pick adults and larvae and crush orange egg clusters. This is the step most people skip, and it is the one that makes the biggest difference.

Step 2: Use straw mulch

Use straw mulch and row covers early in the season. Combine this with the other steps rather than relying on it alone.

Step 3: Rotate potato

Rotate potato and eggplant beds away from last year's site. Combine this with the other steps rather than relying on it alone.

Natural and low-toxicity options

These methods work well alongside the steps above and keep chemical use to a minimum:

• Hand-pick pests or knock them into a bucket of soapy water.
• Use floating row covers as a physical barrier.
• Attract beneficial insects with flowering herbs such as dill, yarrow and alyssum.
• Try insecticidal soap, neem oil or Bt products labeled for this pest, following the label.

If you do use a pesticide, choose one labeled for this pest and the place you're treating, and follow the label exactly. The label is the law.

When to call a professional

Most home gardens can handle Colorado potato beetles without a professional. Contact your local cooperative extension office if damage is severe or you can't confirm the pest.

How to keep Colorado potato beetles from coming back

• Rotate crops and clean up plant debris at the end of the season.
• Inspect plants weekly, especially leaf undersides.
• Keep plants healthy with proper watering and spacing.
• Encourage birds, ladybugs, lacewings and parasitic wasps.

Safety notes

Colorado potato beetles are harmless to people but can defoliate a potato crop.

Keep children and pets away from any traps, baits or treated areas.

About beetles

The Colorado potato beetle is one of the beetles. Beetles go through complete metamorphosis: egg, larva (grub), pupa and adult. The larval stage often does the most feeding and damage, and it can last from a few weeks to several years depending on the species. Adults protect their flight wings under hard wing covers called elytra, which is why most beetles look armored and meet in a neat line down the back.

Look closely at larvae as well as adults. Grubs in soil, fuzzy larvae in closets and small worms in flour are all beetle larvae, and finding them tells you where the problem is centered.

Frequently asked questions