Role of dispersal in the management of adult Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae], on potato

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) [Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae], is the most destructive defoliating insect of potato. This pest has the potential to cause up to 100% loss of tuber yield. The effectiveness of chemical control is limited due to this insects proven ability to evolve resistance to practically all classes of insecticides used against it. Currently, more environmentally friendly means of control such as biological control are being developed and integrated into pest management programs. An effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program depends significantly on the dispersal behavior and residency time of the adult beetles immigrating or emigrating from the fields under production. To examine CPB dispersal behavior under varying conditions both field and laboratory experiments were conducted. Release-recapture trials were used to determine the relationship between adult CPB density and its effect on level of dispersal. As well as to examine the possibility of management strategies having an impact on movement. Recaptures of beetles declined throughout the duration of the trial. The greatest decline was observed 24 hours following the release. The emigration rates for adult beetles was proportional across all densities tested in the field. Flight frequency within the laboratory studies was found to be proportional across all densities tested from two beetles up to a 128 beetles per trial. These results imply that other conditions such as weather, growing season development, and host plant quality could influence beetle dispersal.