Every gardener who grows eggplants on his site knows that the Colorado potato beetle is the main pest of the crop. Therefore, it is important to carry out the processing of plants in a timely manner in order to protect the future harvest. But, before taking any action, you should find out how to process eggplants from the Colorado potato beetle, and what drug or agent to use so that the fruits retain their beneficial properties.

Signs of defeat

The attack of the pest occurs almost immediately after the planting of the nightshade seedlings to a permanent place in the open ground or greenhouse.

You can find out who persistently eats eggplant in a greenhouse and in an open area by the first signs:

  • damaged leaves around the edge;
  • slowing growth;
  • the presence of small numbers of adults of the Colorado potato beetle.

How to process eggplant from the Colorado potato beetle

Initially, the pest feeds on the pulp of the leaf from the back side, but as it grows and multiplies, it moves upward, actively eating everything in its path.

Important!Damaged eggplants lag behind in growth, cease to develop fully and are depressed.

With further reproduction, the pest can be identified by the characteristic clutches of eggs, which are distinguished by a bright orange color, which are localized on the back of the leaves. Their appearance indicates that new individuals will appear within a week.

The need to fight

The Colorado potato beetle is a dangerous pest that is distinguished by its gluttony and endurance. Therefore, if the necessary measures are not taken to save the plants from its invasion, then the eggplant harvest can never be expected.

How to process tomatoes from the Colorado potato beetle

The most dangerous are young individuals of the pest, which at the stage of active growth feed on leaves around the clock, causing damage to plantings.

Note!After the destruction of one plant, these bugs move to the next one and so on, until they completely destroy all the nightshade plantings.

Therefore, it is important to start the fight against the pest in a timely manner in order to prevent its further uncontrolled reproduction and to protect the future eggplant harvest from a re-invasion of the Colorado potato beetle.

How to get rid of a pest

To protect eggplants during the growing season and to secure planting in the future, complex control methods are used. This is due to the special endurance of the pest and its resistance to the drugs used. Therefore, the processing of plants is carried out several times during the season. In this case, you should figure out how to properly protect eggplants from the Colorado potato beetle, starting from the stage of development of the bush.

Chemicals

Chemical pest control

How to process potatoes before planting from the Colorado potato beetle

To protect eggplant plantings immediately after planting in a permanent place, experienced gardeners recommend watering the plants with special preparations. This will protect young bushes and make it possible to fully root in a new place.

On a note! For processing, you can use drugs such as Prestige, Masterpiece. It should be carried out with a working solution, not exceeding the dosage of the component specified in the instructions for the product.

The second stage of processing should be carried out during the active growing season, which will create protection and help protect eggplants from a massive invasion of the pest.In this case, it is recommended to spray the plants on the leaf using any of the following preparations:

  • Inta-vir;
  • Decis;
  • Aktara;
  • Karate Zeon;
  • Presto;
  • Twix.

The last stage of processing is carried out during the flowering period and the formation of the ovary. This will help rid the eggplant bushes of young pests that have appeared and prevent their further reproduction. During this period, you can spray the plants with similar preparations, as in the previous treatment, but choosing a different remedy.

Important!In August, when eggplant bushes enter the fruiting stage, they can be saved from the Colorado potato beetle by spraying with biological preparations, the main condition for which is a short waiting time before harvesting: Aktotsid, Aktofit, Fitoverm.

Folk remedies

You can fight the pest on eggplants not only with the help of chemistry, but also with folk remedies. You can cook them at home using the available components:

  • Wood ash. The pest cannot tolerate this component, therefore, planting can be saved by dusting the plants. It is necessary to do the procedure after rain or in the morning after dew, since it is important that the bushes are wet and the ash lingers on the leaves.
  • Herbal infusions. They are prepared from the following ingredients: garlic, onion husks, wormwood, celandine, tobacco, acacia. To prepare the product, you need to pour 1 part of the collection with 2 parts of hot water and leave for 24 hours. Before sprinkling the leaves, add a little grated laundry soap to the working solution, which will improve the adhesion of the product to the leaves.

Making a home spray solution

Note!It is necessary to use folk remedies at the first signs of damage to the bushes, since it will not be possible to save the plantings during a massive invasion of the Colorado potato beetle without chemicals.

Collecting beetles

Hand picking of insects is a safe method. But you can use it if the site is located directly near the house, since this procedure is carried out daily after the first signs of the pest appear.

The collection is carried out in a specially prepared container filled with salt water. The method is considered effective, but too laborious, as it requires additional effort and a daily investment of time. The collection of the Colorado potato beetle in a mass congestion should be carried out 2-3 times a day, and it will not be possible to get rid of the pest completely in this way.

Prevention

10 folk remedies for the Colorado potato beetle

Many gardeners prefer not to fight, but to carry out comprehensive prevention against the defeat of eggplants by the Colorado potato beetle.

For this, several methods of struggle are used:

  • Repellent plants. You can scare away the pest from the eggplant garden with the help of crops such as calendula, marigolds, celery, dill, nasturtium, mattiola.
  • Plastic bottles. You can save seedlings in this way until the bushes grow very much. To do this, you need to cut off the bottom and top of the bottle, and then put a cap on each plant.
  • Fencing. As protection, you can use a mosquito net or polyethylene, enclosing the plantings with a special fence 50 cm high. This method is based on the fact that the Colorado potato beetle moves along the ground.

Which method of dealing with the Colorado potato beetle to choose, each gardener decides for himself. But you should not ignore the problem, otherwise the harvest may never come.