The Canon of Potato Science: 17. Arthropods/Insects

Abstract

Insect pests of potato can be categorized into three different general types. The most obvious ones are those that damage leaves or stems such as the Colorado potato beetle and flea beetles. Less obvious are those that damage tubers or roots, such as potato tuber moth, cutworms, wireworms, and white grubs or chafer grubs. Aphids and leafhoppers cause damage by feeding on the plant sap, and some are vectors of some important potato viruses. Because of their role as virus vectors (over 13 viruses are transmitted by aphids), aphids probably are of greater economic importance as potato pests worldwide than are defoliators or tuber pests. Potatoes are grown under a wide range of ecological conditions, which greatly affect the distribution and abundance of specific insect pests. The importance of insect pests of potato often varies depending on the region, the growing season, and the production system. For instance, for potato seed production, the most significant insects are aphids as vectors of viruses. In ware production in warm climates, the key insect is the potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella. Some of the insect pests were accidentally introduced to new areas along with potato seed (e.g., potato tuber moth) whereas other ones were already present in locations where the potato was introduced and then proliferated on this new host plant (for example Colorado potato beetle in North America). Global warming with its implications on climate change is likely to affect the geographical distribution of some serious insect pests of potato such as the Colorado potato beetle or even the potato tuber moth. Certain insects can cause tuber yield reductions of up to 50−80%. Losses of this magnitude or even higher are commonly observed in potato fields heavily infested with potato tuber moth in spring and summer crops in North America and the Potato Research (2007) 50:271–274 DOI 10.1007/s11540-008-9077-2