Knowledgebase

Potato pest? #836632

Asked June 20, 2023, 1:34 PM EDT

These are on the potatoes in my community garden. What are they and how do we deal with them? They are squishy and reminiscent of little slugs. Brown and mushy.

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

Hi-they are the larvae of the three-lined potato beetle. They are "frass-packers," that is they carry their excrement on their backs to ward off predators.

HHandpick them or spray with insecticidal soap, pyrethrins, or spinosad.
https://extension.unh.edu/resource/three-lined-potato-beetle-fact-sheet-0
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/threelined-potato-beetles
https://extension.usu.edu/pests/research/three-lined-potato-beetle
Jon

Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 20, 2023, 3:20 PM EDT

Loading ...