The Canon of Potato Science: 17. Arthropods/Insects

摘要

Insect pests of potato can be categorized into three different general types. The most obvious ones are those that damage leaves or stems such as the Colorado potato beetle and flea beetles. Less obvious are those that damage tubers or roots, such aspotato tuber moth, cutworms, wireworms, and white grubs or chafer grubs. Aphids and leafhoppers cause damage by feeding on the plant sap, and some are vectors of some important potato viruses. Because of their role as virus vectors (over 13 viruses are transmitted by aphids), aphids probably are of greater economic importance as potato pests worldwide than are defoliators or tuber pests.