Evaluation of Five Organic Techniques for Controlling Flea Beetles on Kennebec Potatoes

Note to readers, attached is the complete final report for FNE93-004.

Flea beetles never inundated any of the potato beds. The heaviest count of flea beetles on plants was on the Control bed which yielded the highest number of pounds of potatoes (32 lbs). The vitamin E bed had the next heaviest count of flea beetles (about 1/2 of the control bed #) and yielded the third highest number of pounds of potatoes (25.5 lbs) and the largest potatoes overall. The lowest count of flea beetles were on the Reemay covered bed and the Lime bed which yielded, respectively, the fewest and the third fewest pounds of potatoes. In fact, the Reemay bed had less than half the potato poundage yield of the Control bed (only 15.5 lbs compared to 32 lbs) although the Reemay bed potato plants looked better longer than any others.

Therefore, it could be theorized that in a minor influx of flea beetles on potato plants, there is no reason to use any control. So often, farmers get out the spray at the first sight of a bug. This research would challenge the need for a knee jerk reaction to a flea beetle.

• FNE93-004 Final Report