potatoes bugs

[Buck]

What to use to kill potatoes bugs. I used seven twice but they just keep coming back. Is there anything else to use besides seven.

[Billy Fussell]

I have always used 10% Sevin dust, and it worked for me. I don't anything else to use. Others will chime in.

Billy

[Bill Hudson]

Buck,

Try these folks, right in your home town:

Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
Lawrence County Office
924 16th Street
Bedford, IN 47421-3824
lawrenceces@purdue.edu

Phone: 812/275-4623 or 812/279-3811
Fax: 812/275-4131

They will be able to help you with recommendations for pesticides that will work and are registered for use in Indiana.

Bill

[DanR]

Colorado Potato Beetles have the unique ability to resist a pesticide very quickly. So, you may have to use several before getting results. Fortunately the book lists more pesticides for the potato bug than any other. There are also lots of snake oil cures out there but the only one I have found effective is pulverized lime. Depending on the size of your potato patch hand picking and squashing the egg sack is also very effective.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I think that probably the diatomacous (sp?) earth might work good, but it is hard on bees if applied to the plants rather than sprinkled on ground.

[Dale Shaw]

You need a flock of Guinee hens. Bug controll and fertilizer all in one. LOL

[Billy Fussell]

Hadn't thought about that Dale. That is another reason that the old folks kept geese. For the feathers and to turn into the garden. They will eat the bugs and not do so much damage by scratching. Geese don't scratch like chickens or guinnies do.

Billy

[SONNY]

I bout have to spray everyday right now because we get an inch of rain every day and it gets washed off!---Jap. beetles are comin up right now here too adding to the problem! I mix a concoction of stuff and hit them early and often during the growing season, BEFORE I see any bugs, and by then the plants have more resistance to bugs!---most bugs have to eat the sprayed plants and takes 24 hours for the chems to do its thing to their innerds!---I have the ground covered with dead bugs and the plants are still covered with live bugs too! thanks; sonny

[Virginia Mike]

BT, (Don't ask me to spell or pronounce the full name) is an organic that is very effective on potato bugs. It is not a poison but a bacteria. They get sick, stop eating, and die.

[DanR]

Mike, I don't care about the spelling what is that stuff? Dan

[Don McCombs]

Here you go, Dan.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05556.html

[DanR]

No wonder Mike had problems with the pronunciation. Bt is much easier thanks Don. There is a ton of info on this stuff but in all the reading I did not find any mention of Japanese beetles. It seems more directed to caterpillars. The toxicity of Bt and the low price tells me to try it. Thanks All.

[Bill Hudson]

One thing to remember folks, timing is everything. The most effective, efficient insecticide product will not work if it is applied at the wrong time or on the wrong insect. Remember, read the label and follow those directions. The company making the product has spent millions developing and testing the product to determine the most effective way to use it. They do not want it to fail for you, soooooo follow the directions. And, no, more is not better. Costs you money without improving the results.

Bill

[Don McCombs]

Dan,

Bt will work on the Japanese Beetle grubs.

[DarinO]

I've had decent luck using a Fertilome product that includes Spinosad as the active ingredients. If I remember correctly, it's an organic type pesticide. I get it locally at my Farm Bureau Co Op. The label includes uses for mexican bean beetles, cabbage worms, and cucumber beetles, which seem to be my major garden pests.