It seems that everything is simple - just take it and spray the plants with the first drug that comes to hand. But it’s better not to rush and figure out what means exist and how to use them correctly.
If folk remedies no longer help, it’s time to adopt scientific knowledge! To save the crop, insecticides are used - chemicals that destroy pests and their larvae. There are several types: biological and pyrethroid insecticides, insecticides of other groups and regulators of insect growth and development. We will tell you about each of them, as well as the features of specific drugs.
Often the desired effect cannot be achieved due to non-compliance with the dosage or violation of processing rules. Always read the instructions for use of the drug and strictly follow its recommendations.
It is best to start treating with drugs when larvae appear on the bushes. If there are more than 15 of them on each plant, you should hurry up and start spraying. To achieve long-term results, you can agree with your neighbors and carry out the treatment at the same time. This will greatly simplify pest control.
- Colorado potato beetle - not easy to get rid of, but possible
Operation Colorado Beetle: find and neutralize!
What brand of remedy for the Colorado potato beetle is better to choose?
The Russian market for insecticides for protecting potatoes and other vegetable crops from attacks by the Colorado potato beetle is well developed. It presents products from both domestic and foreign manufacturers. However, the undisputed leaders in terms of quality and volume of supplied products, as well as in terms of the price-quality ratio of goods, are suppliers from the Russian Federation.
To figure out which remedy for Colorado is better, you need to delve into the history of each company represented in the rating:
- August (Tabu and Tanrek) is a Russian company that produces products for controlling potato pests. The company was founded in 1990. At the end of 2021, according to the RBC rating, it entered the TOP 500 companies in terms of sales proceeds. He has his own research center, within which specialists develop new formulas. He is the author of more than 100 recipes for use in small household plots and farms. Over the history of the company's development, it has been issued 32 patents.
- Bayer (Prestige) is a German pharmaceutical company founded in 1863 in Barmen. Today its headquarters are in Leverkusen. The company is named after its founder Friedrich Bayer. The company's assortment includes products for the treatment of various diseases and care for all kinds of vegetable crops. Treatants for potato seedlings with insecticidal and fungicidal effects deserve special attention. His preparations are universal - they get rid of the Colorado potato beetle, wireworm, aphids and a number of other pests.
- Kvant (Ecokiller) is a Russian company founded in 2009 in the Penza region. It has permission to extract minerals from the Chuvarleyskoye deposit. The company processes diatomite – loose or cemented siliceous deposits. This powder is used in the creation of dietary supplements, probiotics, cosmetics, and products for agricultural needs. The assortment includes both pure components and finished products. The manufacturer guarantees the destruction of the Colorado potato beetle on potatoes using products without toxic chemicals.
- Rubit (Zaman) is a brand of preparations for garden pests: herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides. The manufacturer has products to combat flies, mole crickets, and wireworms. They are available in the form of a concentrate for preparing a working solution, which reduces liquid consumption. They are distinguished by fast and long-lasting action - up to 20-30 days. Characteristic features of the brand’s products are resistance to high humidity and high temperatures, due to which all this can be used without strict time constraints.
- JOY (Kalash) is a brand of fertilizers and means of protecting vegetable crops from pests. They are characterized by a long shelf life - up to 3 years, high activity against adults and larvae, rapid and long-lasting effects. After treatments, parasites do not develop immunity to the drugs. The company's products are effective against Colorado. They are also used to prevent late blight, powdery mildew, and alternaria. JOY insecticides are environmentally friendly and do not pose a threat to human and animal health.
- Shchelkovo Agrokhim (Imidor VRK Zhukoboy) - the company was founded in 1998. The base was VNIIHSZR (All-Russian Research Institute of Chemical Plant Protection Products) and the Shchelkovo enterprise Agrokhim. Today it produces biological products, agrochemicals and products for the prevention of pest attacks on vegetable crops. Production facilities are located in Kazakhstan and Russia. Shchelkovo Agrokhim products entered the CIS and Far Abroad markets. The company has representative offices in 45 cities of the Russian Federation.
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Rating of the best remedies for the Colorado potato beetle
The most important criterion when selecting nominees was the effectiveness and safety of drugs for nature and humans. If the benefit outweighs the harm, it is better not to use the product.
The key characteristics that were paid attention to were:
- Purpose – pre-planting treatment or application after emergence;
- Types of pests killed - Colorado potato beetle, aphid, mole cricket, etc.;
- Vegetable crops suitable for care are potatoes, cabbage, sweet peppers, eggplants, tomatoes;
- Release form – liquid or solid (powder, granules);
- Recommended ratio of components of the working mixture - concentrate and water;
- Consumption rate per sq. m;
- Composition and concentration of active substances;
- Hazard class of products for treatment against the Colorado potato beetle;
- Speed and duration of exposure;
- Operating principle – contact and/or system;
- Processing method – spraying or adding pure powder;
- Possibility of storing working solution;
- Packaging volume;
- Smell;
- Application conditions: weather and time.
During the preparation of the review, the price-quality ratio of the drugs was also taken into account. Feedback from amateur gardeners and professional farmers was important.
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Ash
The wood product is safe for any plant in the fight against the Colorado potato beetle. Adult plantings should be treated with a birch preparation at a dosage of 10 kg per hundred square meters. This expense guarantees getting rid of the pest. Ash is sprinkled on the soil under the bush. Plantings can also be sprayed with the prepared solution.
To do this, dissolve a bar of laundry soap in a bucket of water and add 2 liters of ash. Leave the product for 15 minutes, then dilute 1 liter of the mixture in clean water and spray the bushes. Carry out the treatment in a course of 2 sprays at intervals of a week. Wood ash is not dangerous to humans and can be used together with onion peels.
The best remedies for the Colorado potato beetle before planting potatoes
Such preparations are intended for treating planting material in order to avoid attacks by the Colorado potato beetle after it is embedded in the ground. Thanks to them, pests do not eat up the entire vegetative part after germination and it is possible to increase the yield. VyborExpert experts took 6 popular products for comparison and, by analyzing reviews about them, as well as product characteristics, added 2 best options to the rating.
Taboo
Potato tuber protectant “Tabu” protects against wireworms and the Colorado potato beetle. The product is intended for treating vegetables before planting, at the most dangerous stage of sprouts and shoots. The drug has pronounced activity against adult and young parasites. Its effectiveness is not affected by high humidity, drought, or applied fertilizers.
The composition is based on the active ingredient imidacloprid. The high concentration of this component causes the insecticide to act quickly and lasting for 30-45 days. When trying to eat the pickled tubers, the pests die within 24 hours.
There are two ways to use the drug. To treat tubers before planting, 8 ml is diluted in 1 liter of water at a consumption of 1 liter per 100 kg of vegetables. You can also pour a solution into the furrows in the proportions of 4 ml/10 l of liquid while spreading the potatoes. The optimal application of the composition is 10 liters per 100 sq. m.
Advantages
- High imidacloprid content – 500 g/l;
- Available in concentrate form;
- Safe for earthworms;
- Uniformity of application;
- Not a chemical smell.
Flaws
- First requires dilution in 1 liter of water;
- The prepared solution cannot be stored;
- Pickled tubers must be dried before being planted in the ground.
The best time to spray with a remedy for the Colorado potato beetle before planting is before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. After treatment, the crop cannot be harvested immediately.
Prestige
The product "Prestige" gets rid of not only colorados, but also wireworms, aphids, and moths. This is a systemic contact insectofungicide that begins to act immediately after an attempt to eat the tubers. It is also suitable for processing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and cabbage. Compared to competitors in the rating, it can be combined in the same tank with other fungicides without reducing effectiveness. The product can be used in both warm and cool weather.
The insecticide "Prestige" is available in 60 ml containers in the form of a concentrate. To prepare the working solution, this amount is mixed with 0.6-1.2 liters of water, after which the planting material is treated with a sprayer. Then the potatoes are thoroughly mixed and planted immediately; they cannot be stored for longer than a day. In addition to the main effect, the protection of the tops from “stress” is enhanced. The effectiveness of the drug is due to the high concentration of active substances - pencycuron and imidacloprid.
Advantages
- Shelf life – 36 months;
- Detailed instructions for use;
- Does not cause allergies;
- Long lasting protection;
- Does not impair the taste of the crop.
Flaws
- High price.
The kit includes a plastic measuring cap to ensure accurate dosage. It is not recommended to exceed it.
How do chemical insecticides work?
Today, with large areas occupied by nightshade beds, or with an abundance of beetles on seedlings, no alternative to chemical insecticides has yet been found. Any insecticide-based product against Colorado potato beetles copes with hordes of pests in a couple of treatments, and neither the larvae nor the eggs have a chance to survive.
Despite the difference in the class of substances, all insecticide-based preparations have a similar principle of action, killing the beetle and its larvae by contact-intestinal method.
But the mechanism for getting a beetle into the body and contacting it differs from the method of processing planted vegetables. Therefore, the product will be different in purpose:
- disinfectants for tubers and seeds;
- seedling sprayers;
- combined products that can be used to protect not only pests, but also plant diseases, as well as for dressing and spraying.
Important! Each of the insecticidal preparations requires measures for chemical protection before processing; this precaution must not be neglected, otherwise you can be seriously poisoned!
The best remedies for the Colorado potato beetle during the growing season
The growing season is the most crucial moment, because most often the green part of the bushes (tops) is attacked. When it is eaten, the plant cannot further develop normally and the yield decreases. To avoid this, it is recommended to treat potatoes with special working solutions at least once every 20-30 days. For their preparation, the means described further in the TOP are suitable. They were selected by comparing the capabilities of all nominees.
Ecokiller
The Ecokiller product is available in powder form and kills both adult individuals and larvae of the Colorado potato beetle. Therefore, it can be used in the spring even in the absence of traces of parasites for prevention purposes. The drug is quite effective, but it is recommended to reuse it just in case. The first time the powder is added directly to the hole (no more than 15 g), and the next day another 2-3 tbsp is added to the plot. l. You can also pollinate the soil around the tops after germination.
The drug for the Colorado potato beetle is easy to use; it is best to use it before 14:00, while there is still dew. The product begins to act quickly, immediately after drying. The bioinsecticide is completely natural and environmentally friendly; it contains SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O. All these components do not harm humans and plants.
Ecokiller is approved by Rospotrebnadzor and the Research Institute. It is sold in a 1000 ml bucket. The product is multifunctional - in addition, it suppresses mold and repels mole crickets, absorbs pesticides, and prolongs the effect of fertilizers.
Advantages
- Fights ants and slugs;
- Suitable for use at home, for example against bed bugs;
- Does not leave residue after dissolving in water;
- Easily sprayed through a spray bottle;
- No toxic odor;
- Insects do not develop immunity to it.
Flaws
- Requires direct contact with Colorado;
- Does not prevent replay attacks.
The drug acts in 3 stages: first it disrupts the integrity of the insect’s protective layer, scratching it thanks to microparticles of diatomite, then it draws moisture out of it and, as a result, leads to the death of the parasite.
Rubit Zaman
The universal product “Rubit Zaman” protects potato tubers from the Colorado potato beetle, ladybugs, aphids and a number of other pests. The drug is effective against both adults and larvae. It has a contact and systemic effect, continuing to work for a long time. The insecticide is available in liquid form in a 10 ml bottle and is economically consumed - 4 liters per 100 sq. m. m for vegetables and 5 liters for apple trees. The working solution is prepared by mixing the disinfectant and water in accordance with the instructions.
The product dissolves quickly in water, but for this it needs to be stirred continuously when adding. After mixing the components, you can immediately begin spraying the tops, which is carried out during the growing season. The diluted drug cannot be stored and loses its effectiveness. Then you need to rinse and dry the used container. Parasites die within 2-3 hours. You can go to work in the garden no earlier than after 3-4 days. Protection lasts for 14-21 days.
Potato tubers can be processed early in the morning or late in the evening. The air temperature should be at least 15 degrees, and the wind should blow at a speed of maximum 1-2 m per second. This option is not suitable if there are apiaries nearby, since it is highly dangerous for them. After treatment with a preparation for potatoes against the Colorado potato beetle, it is recommended to limit them for 6-10 days. For the same reason, the use of the drug for spraying flowering pollinated crops in the warm season is not allowed.
Advantages
- Non-toxic if the consumption rate is observed;
- Low probability of beetle resistance;
- Efficiency is not affected by exposure to rain;
- Not afraid of high temperatures;
- Wide use.
Flaws
- Cannot be mixed with other pesticides;
- May cause the death of bees in the apiary;
- Prohibited for use near fishing waters.
The drug belongs to hazard class 3 and 2 in terms of persistence in the ground. You cannot work with it without safety glasses, a special respirator, headgear, overalls and shoes.
JOY Kalash
This is an inexpensive remedy for the Colorado potato beetle, which neutralizes adult parasites and their larvae. The high effectiveness of the drug is due to the high content of the active substance imidacloprid with a long period of protection. To do this, just one treatment of the tops is enough. JOY Kalash works even at high temperatures and high humidity - it is not washed off with water when watering or in the rain.
The drug "JOY Kalash" is suitable for repeated use because it does not cause addiction to parasites. It does not affect the quality and taste of the crop. The product fights not only Colorado potato, but also greenhouse whitefly in cucumbers and tomatoes growing indoors. Initially, it is dissolved in a small amount of clean water, which is then added. The recommended period for using the insecticide is from May to August.
Advantages
- Economical consumption - 5 liters per 100 sq. m.;
- One container is enough to prepare 50 ml of the treatment mixture;
- Adequate smell;
- Does not dry out bushes;
- Does not affect the quality and taste of potato tubers.
Flaws
- Considerable consumption of working fluid - 10 liters per 100 sq. m (for cucumbers).
The drug has a shelf life of 24 months from the date of production and, according to reviews from gardeners, does not lose its effectiveness over time.
Tanrek
One treatment with Tanrecom is enough for 15-25 days. The pests die within 2-3 days after the tops are treated. This is an option for a wide range of applications - for caring for cucumbers, tomatoes, apple trees, currants, and potatoes. It is also used in the fight against parasites on flowers. Separately, it is worth noting the cost-effectiveness of using the product against the Colorado potato beetle, since it is a concentrate. Insecticidal liquid (2-4 ml) must be diluted in 10 liters of water, and then immediately sprayed on the plants.
Tanrek is safe for the environment and humans, but when working with it you still need to use personal protective equipment - a bandage and gloves. The best time to process potatoes is warm and dry weather, without wind, so that the liquid does not fall on neighboring garden crops. Mixed components must be used immediately, otherwise they become useless. It is sold in 10 ml ampoules, the walls of which are not transparent. Therefore, it is not very convenient to monitor the consumption of the drug.
Advantages
- Fast action;
- Duration of work;
- One package lasts a long time;
- Convenient release form;
- Variety of effects.
Flaws
- It affects the Colorado potato beetle only directly, upon contact.
Reviews show that one treatment is really enough for at least a month. But for this, the solution must be prepared in accordance with the instructions and used immediately.
Imidor VRK Beetlebreaker
...I have experience using this product. With his help, I managed to cope with the Colorado invasion. However, one treatment may not be enough. The tops and tubers were not damaged by it...
Expert opinion
The product “Imidor VRK Beetle Boy” is specially designed to combat the Colorado potato beetle and its larvae on potatoes. The manufacturer assures that one treatment per season is sufficient. That is, the drug is both “therapeutic” and preventive. The product is not addictive to pests and can be used effectively for several years in a row. It acts systemically - the insecticide is absorbed into the leaves of the bushes and quickly distributed inside, creating a barrier for parasites that die both in direct contact with the liquid and when eating tubers.
The insecticide “Imidor VRK Beetle Boy” destroys Colorado within 24 hours and saves even from hiding beetles. Due to the lack of addiction in insects, the result is ensured for at least 3 months. The drug is not afraid of heat and high humidity, after which you can water your vegetables. When used within normal limits, it does not pose a threat to humans and potatoes. Its hazard class is moderate – 3rd.
Advantages
- Long period of use - from April to August;
- Stored at temperatures from -10 to +30 degrees;
- Low consumption - 5 liters of water per 100 sq. m during spraying;
- Does not affect the taste of potatoes;
- Does not harm nature.
Flaws
- It is not recommended to use shortly before harvest.
Reviews indicate that the remedy for the Colorado potato beetle is safe for plants and humans, but users still recommend using protective gloves when working with it.
Urea
The drug is a non-toxic method of getting rid of the beetle. The advantage of use is that the product acts on adults and larvae. It should be applied in the spring - during the period of active reproduction, or in the fall, when the beetles are looking for a place to winter.
The product acts as a bait, does not destroy, but attracts insects to one place. Many summer residents collect beetles in jars and take them away from their garden. The effect of this method is limited and is considered effective after application for a week. Therefore, it should be applied at least once a week to update the result.
To carry out the procedure, you will need 1 kg of potato fruits, a luring solution at the rate of 1 glass per 2 liters of water. The tubers are cut into slices and infused in the solution for a day. In the evening, spread the infused raw material along your eggplant, tomato or potato plantings. The very next day all the beetles will be lying around the bushes. To get rid of larvae, irrigate the bushes with the prepared solution and water in a 1:1 ratio. The procedure will rid the plantings of pests and feed them with nitrogen.
What is the best remedy for the Colorado potato beetle?
To combat colorado, it is important to use safe, non-toxic drugs. They should not provoke allergies or harm the vegetable crops themselves. Systemic agents work effectively, they do not require prolonged direct contact with the pest and remain active for several weeks. Such products do not cause addiction to parasites and are resistant to high humidity - they are not washed off by rain or as a result of artificial watering. If you need to quickly solve the problem, then you should pay attention to contact products that poison beetles when they try to eat potato tops or tubers.
Before making your choice, you need to decide on many nuances:
- To treat potato tubers before planting, you will need a concentrated preparation “Tabu”. It protects the vegetable at the seedling stage, preventing the Colorado potato from spoiling the tops.
- Prestige is recognized as a universal remedy that saves not only from the Colorado potato beetle, but also from wireworms, aphids, and moths. The drug is combined with other insecticides.
- In order to prevent leaf beetle attacks on potatoes and a number of other vegetables, you can buy Ecokiller. This bioinsecticide is environmentally friendly and safe for humans, animals, and plants.
- The most powerful drug against the Colorado potato beetle is “Rubit Zaman”, which has both a contact and systemic effect. Thanks to this, it works for a long time.
- To neutralize both adults and larvae, it is best to choose the “JOY Kalash” insecticide. The drug is not afraid of either increased moisture or high temperatures and can be used in any weather.
- It is recommended to use Tanrek for processing potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants. This is a concentrate that requires dilution with water, and therefore it is economical in consumption.
- If you need to eliminate the Colorado potato beetle and at the same time ensure prevention against its occurrence in the future, it would be right to purchase Imidor VRK Beetle Killer with a mild and quick action.
The remedy for the Colorado potato beetle must be safe, effective, and long-lasting. Only in this case will it be possible to harvest a good harvest of potatoes and other vegetable crops affected by this pest.
Biological drugs
Science does not stand still, and toxic chemicals are being replaced by a new generation of insecticides - so-called biological products. The huge advantage of these products is that they are harmless to plants, insects, birds and animals. In addition, the substances do not accumulate in the fruits of useful plants.
The effect occurs thanks to special bacteria, of which, in fact, biological products are composed. These special types of bacteria infect the larvae and adults of the Colorado potato beetle, resulting in the death of the colony. Note that, on average, the effectiveness of these drugs is slightly lower than chemical ones, and the process of insect death itself is extended over time. However, the safety of bioinsecticides for some may outweigh all their possible disadvantages. Let's get acquainted with the most effective means in this category.
Bitoxibacillin
This product is widely used in their work by those farmers who adhere to organic potato cultivation technologies. The product does not accumulate in root crops, which means that treatment can be carried out not only before flowering, but throughout the growing season.
Bitoxibacillin
The effect occurs as follows: after spraying, the drug penetrates the leaves, then these leaves are eaten by beetles and larvae. After the insect has tasted the poisoned leaf, it develops toxicosis, and after 3-4 days death occurs. On average, after five days the death of the entire colony is stated.
The disadvantages of Bitoxibacillin include its low effectiveness at temperatures below +18 degrees. In addition, the effect of the product is short-lived - only 6-7 days after the procedure.
In addition to Bitoxibacillin, the following drugs are also considered effective against the Colorado potato beetle:
- Actarophyte;
Aktarofit - Aktofit;
- Fitoverm;
- Boverin.
