Doryphores - Colorado Beetle

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Doryphores - Colorado Beetle
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Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Wed May 17, 06 12:17 pm Post subject: Doryphores - Colorado Beetle
Has anybody here sighted any yet this year? We have been advised by neighbours that they are out and about. No evidence of them residing here as yet. Also, can anyone advise of the situation in Northern France. (i.e. do you get many doryphores up there?) DEFRA information page here

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Wed May 17, 06 8:51 pm Post subject:
Yes, they're here in north west france. I spent an hour today picking them and their eggs off the potatoes - any other ideas for dealing with them apart from spraying (which I don't fancy doing)? Karen

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Wed May 17, 06 11:01 pm Post subject:

Hi Karen, Welcome to downsizer.

So you do have doryphores way up north. I don't suppose that is what the lads and lasses back in Blighty wanted to hear but at least we are all in the know now. By the sound of it they are heavier in the north and working their way down as we still havn't spotted any here yet.

Thanks all the same for the info. We all look forward to reading your future posts. Where exactly "up north" are you situated?

Simon

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Thu May 18, 06 3:47 pm Post subject:

Simon,

thanks for the welcome.

And of course I read the other 'dory' post after I'd posted!
Guess I'm stuck with picking and squishing. I've planted the linseed - they were free with the potato chits I bought but it's not flowered yet - which I suppose is what is meant to keep them away.
The chicks seem a good idea, I'm just not sure I trust them in the veg patch, the cats are bad enough!
Last year, later on in the summer, a farmer neighbour sprayed for me but they seem early this year, even he was surprised to know we'd got them this week.

Position wise, north west, Rennes is the closest big city (still 1 hour away). We're about 2 to 3 hours south from Caen/ Cherbourg.

Karen

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu May 18, 06 3:59 pm Post subject:

Hi Karen

Sorry, should have noticed your "location" - Mayenne - found it on the map now. Not coastal.

Have you any idea what your neighbour sprayed the spuds with? (i.e. was it biologique?)

Personally, I am on with combating the blackfly on my broad beans at present. They have near finished them off but I gave them a good soaking with soapy water last night. Maybe they will perk up?

Still no sign of Dorys' here

Good luck with yours

Simon

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46244
Location: yes

Posted: Thu May 18, 06 4:10 pm Post subject:
do they know how to hitch a ride ? my spuds look ok for the first time . we dont have them here (flw) dont want them . oi kilroy talk to these beetles

carol

Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Posts: 4
Location: France

Posted: Thu May 18, 06 8:43 pm Post subject:

When the weather gets warm, we always suffer from colorado beetle. One trick is to hold a bowl of water by the potato plant, tap the plant, and the beetles fall in and drown. Bit fiddly, but works ok if you have the time.

You can wander about with a pair of scissors and cut them in half but you have to be nimble as the first tremble of the plant, and they fall to the soil where they think they are safe. I quite like this method though as I can take out my frustration with the doryphores by chopping them in half.

If you spray,with the correct insecticide, and we do, you can mix in some Bordeaux mixture too. It will mark the plants with the typical blue colour so you can see where you have sprayed so you don't overdo it. The Bordeaux mix is ok and will help against other nasties.

Bon chance

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu May 18, 06 8:56 pm Post subject:
Not so sure about the scissors Carol. Doesn't that make an awful stink? I have crushed a few in the past and the smell wasn't pleasant. I like the bowl of water idea however. At least this way you could save them for further use. Dpack - Do you have any interesting recipes for Col' Beetle? Thanks for your input Carol. Much appreciated. Oh, et Bon Chance � vous aussi S

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Wed May 24, 06 8:49 pm Post subject:
Still no sign of them here yet. (not that I am willing them to arrive - or am I)? Anyone else?

hardworkinghippy

Joined: 01 Jan 2005
Posts: 1110
Location: Bourrou South West France

Posted: Wed May 24, 06 9:47 pm Post subject:
Arggghhh! Fabrice has just come up from the garden at the cabin (where there's running stream water, but no chickens!) and he says we've got them on the potatoes! I'll have a look in the morning, now where's that packet of linseed seeds.....

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Mon Jun 05, 06 4:36 am Post subject:
I'm in Ille et Vilaine in Brittany and I don't have any (yet!) and this is my 2nd year growing spuds.

ksia

Joined: 17 May 2006
Posts: 2320
Location: Mayenne, France

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 06 4:48 pm Post subject:
With all this good weather they're getting a bit cocky and running about on paths. One was heading towards the tomatoes today so I hope it was lost rather then signs of their next target. Counting and squishing over the past 3 days numbers are going down (down to 16 from 25 the day before!) but I don't think it's a battle we'll win...just keep on top of. And we're enjoying our potatoes.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 06 7:55 am Post subject:
Still no sign of the little blighters here (pardon the pun). Our earlies are flowering enthusiastically so no doubt we will be digging soon. Hope that won't attract the beetles.

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 5:12 am Post subject:

Oh no they have arrived chez moi! I found 3 of the little beggars. Not having had them before, what exactly to they do to the plant - just chomp it?

Will I find them hiding under the leaves? The ones I saw were on top of the leaves at the top of the plant. I can't really walk up and down my rows of spuds as they are earthed up so makes walking along the furrow difficult and anyway now the foliage is meeting over the tops of the rows.

Guest

Posted: Mon Jun 12, 06 6:04 am Post subject:

I would certainly pick off as many as you can reach. Yes, they hide under the foliage and when you go to pick them off they drop to the ground. It is their method of defense. (if I drop to the ground he won't bother looking for me). They lay their eggs in the soil and it is the grub that destroys the crop. They do munch on the leaves but I don't think that causes too much damage. I have heard there is also an organic spray you can use but I haven't tried it myself.

Good luck with your mission

S

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