Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Vegetable > Potato > Holes in leaves
Potato > Leaves > Holes in leaves
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Colorado Potato Beetle
Leptinotarsa decemlineata
- Both adults and larvae chew holes in leaves
- Can defoliate entire plant
- Larvae are reddish pink with two rows of dark spots on each side, and 3/8" long
- Adults are yellowish with black stripes, round, and 3/8" long
- Active throughout the summer
- More information on Colorado Potato Beetle
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Flea Beetle
Epitrix cucmeris, potato flea beetle and E. fuscula, eggplant flea beetle.
- Adult feeding on leaves creates shallow pits and small, irregular holes giving it a "shot hole" appearance
- Heavy feeding may cause wilting
- Adults are small (1/16 to 1/8 inch long), black in color;
- Larvae are very small (
- Larvae feed on potato tuber causing shallow tunnels
- Present throughout the growing season
- More information on Flea Beetle
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Cutworms
Peridroma saucia, Agrotis ipsilon, Fetltia ducens
- Can chew holes in leaves (spring and early summer)
- Plant is cut off at or just below the soil surface
- Cutworms are grayish or brownish and up to 2 inches long; typically found during day hiding in soil
- Damage occurs during spring and summer
- More information on Cutworms
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Blister Beetles
Epicauta spp., Lytta spp.
- Adults feed on leaves
- Adults are long and narrow with soft wing covers, 1/2 to 1 inch long, and vary in color from brown to black, or dark with orange stripes
- More common in drought-like conditions
- More information on Blister Beetles
