As cute as this little guy looks, he is bad news.  They are tiny – about the size of a grain of rice – and chirp like a cricket when threatened.  A small colony has taken up residence on our potatoes.  They appear harmless and so far the potatoes don’t seem to be adversely affected by them.  However, they are here for leaves.

Rutgers University offers a free guide to the Three Lined Potato Beetle here.

Management of Three-lined Potato
Beetles:
1. Hand picking of eggs, larvae, and adults is effective but difficult due to their size and activity. Eggs may be difficult to find, and adults and larvae can migrate large distances, even across rows to other plants. Also, they will readily climb back up the plant and resume feeding if just knocked off and not destroyed.
2. Floating row covers, cheesecloth, or other similar materials are an effective barrier to the beetles while the plants are small. However, these materials can be expensive and are generally not economically justified.
3. Because damage is sporadic and population levels seldom reach economic levels, pesticides are usually not necessary for this pest. However, if an insecticide is used, obtain thorough coverage of foliage to ensure adequate control of both adults and larvae. Pesticides used for other insects, such as the Colorado potato beetle, are also effective against the three-lined potato beetle. Read and follow all pesticide label directions, restrictions and precautionary statements. Days to harvest after last application varies depending on crop and pesticide—refer to label for appropriate time intervals.

We Have a new best friend. The asian lady beetle ( lady bug / lady beetle ) larva.  While classified as a pest because of its tendencies to infest buildings over winter, in our garden, it is a welcome helper in our fight against the army of insect pests we are battling this year.  They love to eat large amounts of aphids, scale and other soft-bodied arthropods.  Read more at about them at the University of Kentucky and the USDA.

On my first visit to the farm in a few days, I found the tomatoes covered in white flies or aphids.  Some of the leaves were wilted.  I suspect the new squatters are to blame.

What to do?  I did a bit of research and found some reassuring information on Colorado State University’s Extension’s website:

Figure 6

Whiteflies and aphids (Figure 6) both cause leaf yellowing and leave a characteristic sticky excrement called honeydew. Leaves appear shiny and are somewhat sticky when honeydew is present. Damage usually is minimal on tomatoes and often can be ignored. If aphids become a problem, some applications of insecticidal soap are quite effective.

So we shouldn’t worry?  It is difficult to let them be with so many attached to our precious plants an some wilted leaves.  To be safe I sprayed them down with the mixture Chris made earlier.  No immediate results, but hopefully be tomorrow there will be at least a slight decline in the population.