Pest identification
What's eating my kennebec potato?
Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)
Signs: Adults and larvae strip foliage completely; haulm loss early in season causes yield failure
Control: Daily hand-picking of eggs, larvae, and adults; spinosad spray at larval peak; strict 3-year rotation
Peach-potato aphid (Myzus persicae)
Signs: Vectors potato leafroll virus and PVY, causing mosaic, rolling leaves, and stunted, watery tubers
Control: Certified seed potatoes; early neem or insecticidal soap applications; remove volunteer potato plants
Potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris)
Signs: Tiny round shot-holes scattered across leaves of young plants; larvae feed on small roots and tuber skin
Control: Row covers on transplants; diatomaceous earth around stem bases; spinosad spray on heavily pitted plants
Wireworms (Agriotes spp.)
Signs: Tunnels bored into tubers discovered at harvest; wet seasons increase slug co-damage in the same cavities
Control: Buried carrot-bait traps; Steinernema nematodes; avoid planting in former pasture for at least 2 years
Keep kennebec potato pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Kennebec Potato pests — FAQ
What is eating my kennebec potato?
Kennebec has some late-blight tolerance but no resistance to insect pests. Colorado potato beetle remains the dominant threat, shredding foliage if unchecked. Aphids spread virus; wireworms tunnel tubers; flea beetles pit the leaves of young plants. In rural areas, groundhogs and deer browse actively. Scout daily and rotate the planting bed every season.
How do I get rid of colorado potato beetle (leptinotarsa decemlineata) on kennebec potato?
Adults and larvae strip foliage completely; haulm loss early in season causes yield failure Daily hand-picking of eggs, larvae, and adults; spinosad spray at larval peak; strict 3-year rotation
How do I get rid of peach-potato aphid (myzus persicae) on kennebec potato?
Vectors potato leafroll virus and PVY, causing mosaic, rolling leaves, and stunted, watery tubers Certified seed potatoes; early neem or insecticidal soap applications; remove volunteer potato plants
How do I get rid of potato flea beetle (epitrix cucumeris) on kennebec potato?
Tiny round shot-holes scattered across leaves of young plants; larvae feed on small roots and tuber skin Row covers on transplants; diatomaceous earth around stem bases; spinosad spray on heavily pitted plants
How do I get rid of wireworms (agriotes spp.) on kennebec potato?
Tunnels bored into tubers discovered at harvest; wet seasons increase slug co-damage in the same cavities Buried carrot-bait traps; Steinernema nematodes; avoid planting in former pasture for at least 2 years