RESPONSE OF COLORADO POTATO BEETLES ON POTATO LEAVES TO MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS

The response of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), to the physical parameters of vibration used to remove insects from plants was studied under laboratory conditions. Adult male, adult female, and larval Colorado potato beetles responded in a similar way to the different combinations of frequencies and amplitudes tested. T he percentage of beetles dropping off leaflets exceeded 90 at frequenc ies equal to or greater than 20 Hz when amplitudes were equal to or gr eater than 0.6 mm. The average number of beetles falling off was signi ficantly smaller for those holding to the edge of the leaflet than for those holding onto the surface of the leaflet. Beetles exposed to vib rations fell off mostly during the initial 2 seconds of exposure. Resu lts demonstrate that it is possible to apply vibrations to potato plan ts to enhance beetle dropoff and improve the effectiveness of beetle c ollectors.