AgronomyInsectsPlague of potato bugs invade Austrian village

Plague of potato bugs invade Austrian village

-

Locals said the beetles were everywhere in the surrounding fields and were crawling all over the walls and windows of homes.

Residents of the village in Austria’s Weinviertel region said they’d never experienced such a swarm of the brown and yellow striped beetles before, with the head of the local Chamber of Agriculture, Roman Spiess, comparing it to “one of the ten Biblical plagues”.

Agricultural experts think the beetle invasion may have been caused by the amount of rain that Lower Austria had over the summer. There is no effective means of eradicating the beetle, and the village had to wait until the pests had eaten everything they could and then flew off in search of more food.

Potato bugs are a major pest for potato crops, as well as tomatoes and aubergines. They are very prolific, laying as many as 800 eggs.

Source:  thelocal.at

Trending This Week

Late blight on potato leafs

Study Reveals Potential for Genetically Modified Potatoes to Combat Late Blight Threat

0
Potato growers facing the relentless threat of late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans may soon have a more resilient option, thanks to groundbreaking research...

Five Tips to Win the Late Season Storage Game

As the storage season stretches into its final months, the stakes get higher. By now, even the best-maintained potatoes have been through months of dormancy,...

Warning: Potatoes’ Silent Profit Killer Hitting Hard

From aphids to moisture stress, verticillium, and countless other threats, potato growers constantly battle yield robbers that keep them up at night. Yet, strangely, there’s...

Spud Smart’s Most Innovative Products for 2025

What innovative products are leading the Canadian potato industry into the future? As the Canadian potato industry grapples with unpredictable weather patterns, economic strains, and...

Financial Strain Hits Applied Ag Research Funding

As government support for agricultural research declines, the industry must find new ways to innovate and collaborate. Funding cuts to applied agricultural research in Canada...