Doryphores - Colorado Beetle

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Doryphores - Colorado Beetle
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Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu May 18, 06 8:56 pm Post subject:
Not so sure about the scissors Carol. Doesn't that make an awful stink? I have crushed a few in the past and the smell wasn't pleasant. I like the bowl of water idea however. At least this way you could save them for further use. Dpack - Do you have any interesting recipes for Col' Beetle? Thanks for your input Carol. Much appreciated. Oh, et Bon Chance ï¿½ vous aussi S

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Wed May 24, 06 8:49 pm Post subject:
Still no sign of them here yet. (not that I am willing them to arrive - or am I)? Anyone else?

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Wed May 24, 06 9:47 pm Post subject:
Arggghhh! Fabrice has just come up from the garden at the cabin (where there's running stream water, but no chickens!) and he says we've got them on the potatoes! I'll have a look in the morning, now where's that packet of linseed seeds.....

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 06 4:36 am Post subject:
I'm in Ille et Vilaine in Brittany and I don't have any (yet!) and this is my 2nd year growing spuds.

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 06 4:48 pm Post subject:
With all this good weather they're getting a bit cocky and running about on paths. One was heading towards the tomatoes today so I hope it was lost rather then signs of their next target. Counting and squishing over the past 3 days numbers are going down (down to 16 from 25 the day before!) but I don't think it's a battle we'll win...just keep on top of. And we're enjoying our potatoes.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 06 7:55 am Post subject:
Still no sign of the little blighters here (pardon the pun). Our earlies are flowering enthusiastically so no doubt we will be digging soon. Hope that won't attract the beetles.

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 5:12 am Post subject:

Oh no they have arrived chez moi! I found 3 of the little beggars. Not having had them before, what exactly to they do to the plant - just chomp it?

Will I find them hiding under the leaves? The ones I saw were on top of the leaves at the top of the plant. I can't really walk up and down my rows of spuds as they are earthed up so makes walking along the furrow difficult and anyway now the foliage is meeting over the tops of the rows.

Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 6:04 am Post subject:

I would certainly pick off as many as you can reach. Yes, they hide under the foliage and when you go to pick them off they drop to the ground. It is their method of defense. (if I drop to the ground he won't bother looking for me). They lay their eggs in the soil and it is the grub that destroys the crop. They do munch on the leaves but I don't think that causes too much damage. I have heard there is also an organic spray you can use but I haven't tried it myself.

Good luck with your mission

S

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 6:05 am Post subject:
Whoops, sorry It's not like me to forget. S

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 6:55 am Post subject:
Oh god, so it's the spuds themselves they are after! I'll have to start having a delve on the ground then. Thanks Simon.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 10:26 am Post subject:

Mandy, no. Don't start digging

I have not made it very clear (as usual

) sorry.

The beetles will lay there eggs and the larvae will burrow into the soil awaiting next years crop of spuds which is why crop rotation is important.

By picking the beetles off the spuds now you will discourage them from laying eggs in the first place (i.e. squish them). The larvae overwinter in the soil to emerge next spring. AFAIK you will probably not get many eggs until well into the season but the more you can pick off the better for your spuds.

We got hundreds of them last year but we also still got hundreds of spuds so don't panick. It was never my intention to turn this into a "bird flu" type scare. Just to point out to folk on the continent that observation is advisable.

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 10:55 am Post subject:

*heaves sigh of relief* Thanks for the further info. Actually I wasn't going to start digging them up but have a look at the ground under the spuds for beetles!

This is one of the times where I was being lazy and instead of googling information of the beetle I have just asked the question here.

That photo of the larvae that you sent me - it might be a good idea to post it here for anyone reading this thread. I knew what the beetles looked like - they do stand out like sore thumbs - but I had no idea what the larvae looked like. Luckily they should be easy(ish) to spot too, given the colouring.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 11:33 am Post subject:
Here it is .....

zigspider

Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Posts: 3
Location: Cape Breton Island, Canada

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 06 2:04 am Post subject:

Hi there,

new to this forum, but fresh from France (Centre)

I used the tried and tested pick them off and drop in salt water. Means a bit of work on a daily basis, but does deal with them.

Agree with the rotation. No way you can get all of them before they lay eggs etc..

Still, did get plenty of potatoes anyway.

Now living in Canada, so hopefully there will be no problems with the critters.

Jerry

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 06 10:03 am Post subject:

Hi Jerry

WELCOME TO DOWNSIZER!

Well done with the picking off routine. I'm afraid I get way too bored with such activities - isn't that what children are here for

Fortunately we did not get too many Doryphores on our plot this year. I took all the tops off my maincrop plants yesterday and found a few larvae and even less beetles but the spuds themselves look wonderful (even the red ones).

Hope you settle in Canada OK. I am told that most of the country is "French speaking" now?

Enjoy the forum.

Simon

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