The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is a highly damaging insect defoliator of potatoes, Solanum tuberosum. Indiscriminate applications of insecticides have repeatedly resulted in control failures due to the evolution of resistance in beetle populations. Therefore, sustainable potato protection requires integrated pest management, including reliable economic thresholds. We manipulated Colorado potato beetle densities in potato plots to create different levels of defoliation. We then correlated beetle numbers and foliage condition determined using traditional scouting and remote sensing techniques with potato yields.
.png)
