The potato bug has been known for its resilient and formidable nature, those that intend to grow their own crops should be aware. They are mostly attracted to potatoes but it also infests other types of vegetation. The potato bugs can also wreak havoc on gardens and it is not only a destructive pest but also a recalcitrant one. The potato bug is very hard to eliminate due to its resilient and stubborn nature, anyone who intends to grow the crop should also put it into consideration. Knowing how to get rid of it can go a long way to further enlighten you on its nature. You will know how you can eliminate these bugs naturally.

When it comes to getting rid of potato bugs, one must be very careful and meticulous. Many insecticide and pesticides don\’t work on the common potato bugs, which mean those who are dealing with these crop-destroying pests must get creative and use preventive tactics along with other means of removal in order to protect their plants. Some always say there are tricks you can use and eliminate the potato bug problems in gardens. You will get to know how the potato bugs operate, what attracts them, how it evades certain pest control methods, and how to get rid of the potato bugs naturally.

What is a Potato Bug?

When people actually refer to potato bugs being pests, they are often referring to Colorado potato beetle. The real potato bug is the Jerusalem cricket and is a highly beneficial decomposer. Though the two bugs are potato bugs the Jerusalem cricket is the main one.

The most important thing to know is that when people discuss the potato bugs, they could be referring to either the Colorado potato beetle or the Jerusalem cricket. As they go by the same name, they are entirely different. Know more about these two diverse potato bugs below

1. The Jerusalem Cricket: It usually feed on potatoes, tubers, roots and other below ground plants and that is why it is called potato bug. Though nocturnal and preferring to spend most of its time below ground. If you do come across a Jerusalem Cricket you will know. These strange looking creatures are like one inch long with their thick abdomen and round head. They have six legs and stripes almost like a bee\’s down their back.

Despite their terrifying appearance, Jerusalem bugs are not poisonous, and are actually harmless to people, though they can bite if they are threatened. With their scary looks, Jerusalem bugs could play an important role in the ecosystem. They are natural decomposers that can help the garden flourish. Due to this fact, many gardeners and farmers enjoy having the Jerusalem Crickets around as they do much more good than harm to crops.

1. The Colorado potato beetle: When people refer to the potato bugs as being stubborn and problematic, they are referring to the Colorado potato beetle. This destructive garden pest is the one that is responsible for destroying crops like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, nightshade, ground cherry and pepper plants.

The Colorado potato beetle is also resistant to many insecticides and pesticides making it difficult to get rid of. Worse, it overwinters in the soil where it knows crops will be growing again in the next season, often leading to lost crops year after year for unknowing gardeners and farmers.

Potato Beetle larvae are generally bright red with small blackheads and parallel rows of black spots going down the sides of their bodies. As they age, larvae become a salmon pink or orange color. Potato bugs overwinter about 5 to 10 inches beneath the soil, typically choosing potato fields or gardens in locations they have fed on before. In the spring, when crops are beginning to emerge from the earth, potato bugs will also emerge to feed so ravenously on leaves that they will often completely defoliate entire plants.

Things attracting Potato Bugs to your garden

Like most garden-destroying pests, the Colorado potato beetle is attracted to food sources, shelter, and good breeding ground. They can come in masses to gardens with the types of plants they feed on, including many in the nightshade family.

Plants that most attract Potato beetles include:

1. Potatoes
2. Tomatoes
3. Eggplant
4. Pepper
5. Nightshade
6. Ground Cherry Plants

Once the potato beetle is attracted to your garden, it can reproduce rapidly and feed on plants so ravenously that it often strips them down to skeletal stems. Because these are such common pests, if you are growing potatoes or any other type of plant potato beetles may be attracted to, the best way to get rid of them is to use preventive measures in order to keep them from occurring in the first place.

How to get rid of Potato Bugs using Natural Repellents

Natural repellents like garden netting and other sprays and preventive can help you protect your garden from potato bugs and other pests. What we like best about using natural repellents, especially on edible garden plants, is that they are often safe for people, pets, and the environment. You should bear in mind that potato bugs are resistant to many methods of pest control, which means there should be a specific design for any type of insecticide and repellents.

• Diatomaceous Earth: Food grade Diatomaceous Earth is a very popular and effective form of pest control that can work to help kill and control potato bug infestation in your garden. Most people are attracted to this product because it works using ingredients that are harmless to people, pets and the environment while still being deadly to garden pest. It is made up of fossilized algae that penetrates the exoskeleton of pests like the potato beetle and kills them by dehydrating them on contact.

• Anphisn Garden Screen: Another way to naturally control potato bugs is to use a garden net that is specifically designed to keep out insects. The garden screen works to protect your plants from a number of pests like birds and insects.

• Harvest Guard: This is another garden net specifically designed to gardens from these potato bugs. The netting has small pores that are tight enough to keep out pests but large enough to let water and sunlight through, which allows your plants to continue to flourish.

• Beneficial Nematodes: The potato beetles spend so much of its time beneath the soil; introducing life beneficial nematodes can help control them before they become active in the spring. Nematodes are small, beneficial round worms that attack and eat soil pests including potato beetles and potato beetle larvae.

• Bonide Neem Oil: While this is trusted and natural product that kills and control many garden pests, we should also note that it can be unreliable for potato beetles, though it has been found working in some situation and may work when used properly and especially if used alongside other pest control management tools and sprays.