Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: SimonF1 on July 20, 2021, 15:05

Title: Colorado beetle
Post by: SimonF1 on July 20, 2021, 15:05

When I was growing up in Derby, the police stations used to have psters asking you to report sightings of Colorado beetles. I think they have still not managed to spread over Britain, but you really, really don’t want them. I won’t be digging up potatoes this year because they got the lot. This is what they look like so you don’t have to go to the police station to check. They take all the leaves and eve chew the stalk down. I was left with about 6 inch stubs sticking out of the ground, then they started on the tomatoes and green peppers. I have sprayed them several times, but they just laugh and fetch the shower gel to enjoy the bath.

Title: Re: Colorado beetle
Post by: Aunt Sally on July 20, 2021, 15:29

We certainly don’t want those  :ohmy:

Title: Re: Colorado beetle
Post by: mumofstig on July 20, 2021, 16:04

Unlucky, and you are right - it was, and still is, a notifiable pest in the UK.
https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/assets/factsheets/colorado-beetle-factsheet.pdf

Title: Re: Colorado beetle
Post by: missmoneypenny on July 21, 2021, 21:32

They look horrendous. I remember them from childhood  holidays in the French countryside. Until now I liked to think they hadn’t made it across the channel.

Title: Re: Colorado beetle
Post by: Kleftiwallah on July 22, 2021, 11:28

I well remember the poster you're referring to Simon.  It made me ever vigilant. :)  Cheers,  Tony.

Title: Re: Colorado beetle
Post by: SimonF1 on July 22, 2021, 15:50

I am on the other side of the channel, so you are still okay. Apparently the German potatoe farmers use large blowers to stop them munching. Their automatic protection system is to let go and fall to the ground when anything happens. Stops them laying eggs on the plants and munching.