![]() ![]() (Need a point of reference for scale? Check out this Jerusalem cricket perched on a human hand!) They have disproportionately large, humanoid heads and strong, sizable mandibles and can grow up to 3 inches in length, adding to the shock factor. Jerusalem crickets are subterranean nocturnal insects that look like a cross of a large ant and fat wasp. Today, I’m talking about the big wingless insect with alien-like features that’s often called a potato bug, because it can sometimes be found in potato fields, feeding on the roots and tubers of potato crops. The name “potato bug” refers to two different insects: Jerusalem crickets (Stenopelmatus fuscus) and Colorado potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). Here’s where most people (and amateur blogs) get mixed up. How to treat a bite from a Jerusalem cricket.What happens if a Jerusalem cricket bites you?.Where did the name Jerusalem cricket come from?.Keep reading to learn where they come from, how to manage them in your home and garden, and what to do if you’ve been bitten by a potato bug. So, want the real lowdown on this strange-looking bug that’s more accurately known as a Jerusalem cricket? There’s so much misinformation online surrounding the potato bug, and that’s because it’s often mistaken for the Colorado potato beetle, an entirely different insect altogether. If you’ve come across this unusual bug, don’t be alarmed and definitely don’t try to smush it. The only time they might bite is when they’re cornered or provoked, whether intentionally or not. While pesky, these bugs are naturally shy and will scurry away from humans. Luckily, it isn’t common to get bitten by potato bugs and they don’t inject venom. Since resistance to insecticides can vary dramatically by region, we can help determine what option is best for you and your garden.Let’s just get one thing out of the way here: While not poisonous, a bite from a potato bug can certainly rattle you! Potato bugs have strong jaws that can sink into the skin and cause a moderate amount of pain if they bite you. For best results, rotate insecticides with different active ingredients to ensure the beetles haven’t adapted to one.Ĭontact Cardinal Lawns before beginning a chemical treatment program. Synthetic insecticides should only be used in home gardens when other methods fail, and when there is at least one beetle per plant. Certain planting techniques, such as rotating crops, adjusting the time of year that you plant, and using mulch can all help to suppress potato beetle populations. Remove dead plants from your vegetable garden each season and till the bed so that these beetles have fewer places to hide. ![]() Keep an eye on your plants for several weeks, since adults spend the winter in the soil and can colonize host plants for one month and live for a whole year. ![]() Simply drop adults and larvae in a bucket of soapy water. If you see any signs of the eggs or beetles on your plants, you can hand pick them off early in the season to control any spreading or damage. Adult potato beetles are small, yellow and black striped bugs. You may also notice lines of black dots along each side of their bodies. Young potato beetles are bright red with a hard shell and two rows of ridges across their humped backs. To catch them in the egg stage, look underneath the plant leaves for anything bright orange. There’s no need for a rain date.–the potato beetle is very adaptable to unstable conditions, including insecticides, which makes it a difficult pest to control. Large family reunions with three or more generations of this very fertile species can spring up in a single growing season. A mature adult emerges a few weeks later (depending on conditions) and continues to feed on foliage as well. Once they’ve had their fill, potato bugs burrow into the soil and enter a dormant pupate state. This feast can last for several weeks or up to two months. ![]() Once hatched, larvae begin to feed on the plant. They have a voracious appetite, are highly fertile, and tend to resist insecticides.įemale beetles can lay up to 800 eggs at a time, and the underside of plant leaves is their preferred maternity suite. Gardeners, beware! If you’re growing potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, or peppers, keep an eye out for potato beetles (leptinotarsa decemlineata). ![]()
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