Preventing Epitrix potato flea beetles

Action is being taken to prevent the spread of Epitrix potato flea beetles into the UK, after the pest was found across northern Spain in 2010, reported Dominic Eyre of FERA.



Four species of the beetle, all of which cause damage to potatoes, can be found in a number of countries worldwide and, in all cases, had already spread before detection occurred.


“Although the damage they do to tubers is usually superficial, it always affects marketability,” said Mr Eyre. “In Canada, where there are big populations of the beetle, they have a high tolerance threshold of 5%.”


The beetles are small at 2.5-3cm long and spread by jumping, he added. “The adults feed on the foliage and then the females lay eggs on the soil surface, by the base of the potato plants. When they hatch, the larvae feed on the tubers.”


One female can lay up to 200 eggs, he noted. “In terms of control, it’s important to spray before the adults have laid the eggs.”


As the beetle is already established in Portugal and Spain, the focus has been on preventing its introduction to the UK, remarked Mr Eyre.


“Both seed and ware imports are possible routes. We have been inspecting consignments and out of a total of 40 inspections, no beetles were found.”


Potatoes imported from Portugal have to be brushed, to remove the pest, he added.

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