Identification

• Potato beetles are approximately 1/3 inch long with orange heads and yellow bodies with black stripes or dots. The bright yellow eggs are laid in clusters on the undersides of the leaves and hatch in five to nine days. The larva is red, with black spots and black heads. Both the adults and the larvae feast on the foliage.
  
  

Natural Sprays

• There are a number of sprays that can help you deal with these damaging pests. A combination of 1 tbsp. of hydrogen peroxide and 1 gallon of water works well. You can also put two to four drops of basil, peppermint or eucalyptus essential oils in a gallon of water and spray on the affected plants. A cooled tea made from cedar chips and fish emulsion can also help repel potato beetles.
  
  

Additional Solutions

• The most effective (and unfortunately most disgusting) method of control is to smash the eggs and handpick the adults. You can also introduce some natural enemies of the potato beetle, including lady beetles, lacewings, predatory stink bugs and spiders. Crop rotation and floating row covers help control infestation.