The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is the most destructive
pest of potatoes, eggplant, and tomatoes in the Mid-Atlantic region. This species has
developed resistance to every known class of insecticides. A three-year study in fresh
market tomatoes found that mass releases of Podisus maculiventris, a native
predacious sting bug, and Edovum puttleri, an exotic egg parasite, reduced numbers
of this invading pest. The stink bug was more effective and new studies will evaluate mass
releases of this species combined with potato trap
crops in order to protect the tomato crop.
Edovum puttleri emerging from
Colorado
potato beetle eggs
|
Podisus
maculiventris feeding on
Colorado
potato beetle egg
|