Colorado Potato Beetle

The Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB) is known to develop resistance to varied management strategies; thus, a need exists for discovery and development of biorational, environmentally-friendly alternative control procedures. Field tests conducted in Maine with a collaborator, Dr. A. R. Alford (Development of an attractant for management of the Colorado potato beetle - 1275-22000-137-15G and Development of attractant technology for management of Colorado potato beetle - 1275-22000-137-21G), at the University of Maine demonstrated the effectiveness in the field of CPB attractant blends discovered by us. Our results demonstrate the potential usefulness of attractants in CPB management.

CPB is known to develop resistance to varied management strategies; thus, a need exists for discovery and development of biorational, environmentally-friendly alternative control procedures. Receptors neurons for specific glycoalkaloids in adult CPB were discovered and characterized. This knowledge may aid in the bioassay and discovery of feeding deterrents for use in management of pestiferous CPB populations (Development of an attracticide for the Colorado potato beetle - 1275-22000-137-20S).

Synthetic attractants and repellants for CPB were characterized and tested in laboratory behavioral bioassays and field tests. Strategies for management of CPB using attractants and deterrents were evaluated in the field. A laboratory behavioral bioassay was developed which showed blends of specific chemicals that were attractive to the CPB and its predators. The discovery of attractants and deterrents for CPB and its predators provides tools for manipulation of the insects for management of pestiferous population using biorational, environmentally friendly, behavioral chemicals.