On the successful acclimatization of the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say, 1824) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Primorsky kray

Abstract

The successful naturalization of the Colorado potato beetle in Primorsky Kray is limited by the monsoon climate, namely unstable fluctuating weather conditions with periodic catastrophic precipitation. The most of potato fields are located in the bottomlands of rivers or in close proximity to water bodies and a drastic increase in the runoff due to excessive simultaneous rainfall leads to the flooding of agricultural lands and the elimination of the fodder plants. The Colorado potato beetle is an oligophage and can not switch to alternative food sources during these periods. Moreover, beetles that enter diapause under these conditions die because of flooding and cold injury. Despite this fact, the pest remains a threat to the potato production in the region and can cause significant damage in case of repeated invasions during periods with more favorable conditions.