A striped beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America whose larvae and adults defoliate potato, tomato and eggplant. It spread across the United States and into Europe and Asia over the twentieth century and is notorious for evolving resistance to nearly every class of insecticide used against it, making it a persistent challenge for potato growers worldwide.
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Potato, Crops The Colorado potato beetle is the most significant defoliating insect pest of cultivated potato.
Sources
1. Colorado Potato Beetle (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationOpening definition paragraph
The Colorado potato beetle is a beetle known for being a major pest of potato crops. It is about 10 mm long, with a bright yellow/orange body and five bold brown stripes along the length of each of its wings. Native to the Rocky Mountains, it spread rapidly in potato crops across the United States and then Europe from 1859 onwards.
lead description
A striped beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) native to the Rocky Mountain region of North America whose larvae and adults defoliate potato, tomato and eggplant.
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