Question
We live in eastern Kentucky and have a huge number of potatoe beetles.We have sprayed and /or dusted our entire garden with Sevin dust/spray three times already and it seems the critters are not affected at all.Please help.


Answer
Lee,

By potato bug I'm guessing you mean Colorado potato beetle. This insect is a very serious defoliating pest for both home gardeners and farmers. Because it is such a severe pest a lot of insecticide has been used against it and as such there's a degree of insecticide resistance in most populations.

Take a look at this article from the U. of Kentucky http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef312.asp about managing this insect. For many gardeners handpicking is a good option. Drop handpicked insects into soapy water.

You might also try neem oil because this would be an insecticide that farmers don't use and hence there would not be as much resistance to it in the insects. Take a look at this page http://www.livingwithbugs.com/neem_oil.html for information about using neem oil insecticide.

Good luck with your gardening this summer.


Jack DeAngelis, PhD
Extension Entomologist (ret.)
My website about home and garden pests: http://www.livingwithbugs.com