| I found as I dug potatoes today a two-inch voracious insect feeding on the tubers. They ate about a one-inch hole and then proceeded to eat another area on the same or different tuber. The insect has two 1/4 inch antenna-like projections on its abdomen, vestigial wings on the thorax, and a nasty looking sort of reddish-brown head with chewing mouthparts. It really has made a mess on many of my potatoes. Do you know what it is and whether it can be controlled? |
| If your spuds are being attacked by worms, you should plant them in a different garden spot next year (to avoid re-infestation). The larvae of many ground-dwelling beetles find potatoe tubers quite tasty. There aren't any soil treatments to get rid of the larvae, because they live several inches below the surface. You can try tilling the soil once or twice in the fall to expose the worms to weather and predators, and tilling again in the spring prior to planting. The best defense is to grow your potatoes in another garden spot next year, and to cover the foliage with floating row covers to keep adult beetles from laying eggs near your plants. |
