Potato Beetle Control
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Charles Graziadei
Posted on: July 28, 1998

Can you recommend an organic pest control for potato beetles?

Fossil dust puffed onto the affected plants will control them if the dust actually hits the insects. Pyrethrum soap spray will work as well, but again the spray has to come in contact with the insect to be destroyed. Both sprays have to be renewed after every rain.

You could also mix up an oil/detergent spray that works very well. Mix one cup olive oil with one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent. To use, dilute one to two and one half teaspoons of the the oil/detergent mix with one cup of warm water. This recipe plus others can be found on page 23-25 of the book "Kill Bugs Dead" by D. Martin (Catalogue #B6160). Other remedies are discussed in the book "Natural Insect Control" by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Catalogue #B6490)

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