Spud GP

Question: I’ve noticed a few leaves getting chewed on plants around the edge of the paddock, but I can’t see any insects on there – what’s causing this?

Answer: This looks like 28-spot ladybeetle (Epilachna spp.) damage. Not all ladybeetles are beneficial predators; 28-spots, sometimes called potato ladybird beetles, are very definitely plant eaters.

In Issue 11 of PotatoLink magazine, the Spud GP provides information on how to detect 28-spot ladybeetle at the larvae and adult stages.

Contact the Spud GP with your queries by emailing info@potatolink.com.au.