We've discovered that blister beetles have been tearing up our potato plants pretty bad. Most of the leaves have been eaten. It's been terrible hot here so we didn't notice it right away. "Those potato plants look kinda rough - it's probably the heat, hurry up and turn on the sprinkler so we can get back inside" sort of deal (thermometer said 107 in the shade today and yesterday, in VA). Discovered the bugs yesterday, identified them with the help of google. Also saw that the Rotenone we used on the colorado potato beetles earlier this year is supposed to work on blister beetles also. Applied it yesterday. Today, no change. They're everywhere. After supper, I went out with a bucket of water and picked probably a hundred of these things. After about 15 plants, the lack of sunlight pretty much stopped my effort. Any recommendations to get rid of these things?
The Rotenone really did a good job on the colorado potato beetles, but they were in a different stage. Maybe that's why it didn't do so good with these, they're already full grown.
Keith
The Rotenone really did a good job on the colorado potato beetles, but they were in a different stage. Maybe that's why it didn't do so good with these, they're already full grown.
Keith