Holes in leaves are the sign of an insect feasting on your sweet potato vine, likely tortoise or flea beetles. To get rid of beetles, shake them off into a bucket of soapy water.
What is eating holes in my sweet potato vines?
Holes in the leaves of morning glory and sweet potato vine may be the first clue your plants are infested with goldbug. This 5 to 7 mm long bright gold beetle is also known as the golden tortoise beetle. Both the adult and larvae feed on the leaves of all members of the morning glory family.
What eats holes in sweet potato leaves?
Sweet Potato Flea Beetle
Sweet Potato Flea Beetle
Adult beetles are black, about 1/16-inch long and usually hop away when disturbed. They are easily recognized by the tendency to eat narrow grooves in the upper surface of sweet potato leaves.
Why are there holes in my potato vine leaves?
A: There are a number of pests that can chew holes in the leaves of the fast-growing potato vine; beetles, looper caterpillars, slugs, snails and grasshoppers can all nibble holes of small to enormous size.
How do you control sweet potato pests?
Sweetpotato Weevil
Pests can be controlled by using insecticides, separating infected crops, throwing away host plants, and using postharvest treatments. To avoid an infestation, be sure to use only certified transplants from weevil-free areas.
How do you treat holes in sweet potato leaves?
Holes in leaves are the sign of an insect feasting on your sweet potato vine, likely tortoise or flea beetles. To get rid of beetles, shake them off into a bucket of soapy water. Spread diatomaceous earth around the plant. You can also apply neem oil to the affected area.
What are small black holes in sweet potatoes?
What do black spots on sweet potatoes mean? If your sweet potatoes have small black dots, they are still safe to eat. These can mean anything from bruising and oxidization to chemical reactions from cooking. However, if your sweet potato has deep black pits, that is a sign of rot and you should discard it.
What insect eats sweet potato vine?
The sweet potato root can be injured by several soil insects including: the sweet potato weevil, rootworms, wireworms, white grubs, whitefringed beetles and flea beetles. The sweet potato weevil larva is the only insect that tunnels throughout the root. Other soil insects feed on the surface of the developing root.
What animal is eating my sweet potato vine?
Voles (Microtus spp.), ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi), and gophers (Thomomys spp.) have a common taste for sweet potato vines. Voles look similar to mice and are about 6 inches long.
Do sweet potato vines attract bugs?
Purple sweet potato vine plants also attract flea beetles and potato wireworms. Between early May and June, these pests come out of the ground to feed on the foliage. The field will serve as their breeding ground and their eggs will fall just beside the plant.
Can you use Sevin on sweet potato vines?
Pest problems include the sweet potato looper — a caterpillar that chews holes in the leaves — and the sweet potato whitefly. Control the looper with occasional applications of an insecticide containing BT, spinosad, a pyrethroid (permethrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin and others) or carbaryl (Sevin).
Which is the most destructive pest of sweet potato crop?
the sweetpotato weevil
Though the sweetpotato weevil is the most damaging pest of this crop nationwide, it has only recently been found in North Carolina and is a potential problem here. Many pests attack sweetpotato foliage.
Is it okay to eat sweet potato with holes in it?
When it comes to pithy sweet potatoes, as long as the inside of the potato has only a few holes here and there, it should be perfectly safe to eat. If the holes are all over the place, throw it away to be safe. That sweet potato probably isn’t spoiled, but it will taste bad, so there’s no point in cooking it.
Why do my potatoes have small holes?
Holes in potatoes are mainly caused by wireworms which are the larvae of click beetles. They tunnel into the potato tuber leaving a hole behind. Methods of control include crop rotation, traps, pesticides, and predatory nematodes. Holes in potatoes can also be caused by hollow heart conditions and white grubs.
What pest makes holes in potatoes?
Wireworm
Wireworm in Potatoes
Slug entry holes look very much like those made by wireworm, the larvae of the click beetle. The slugs that are known to tunnel into potatoes belong to the keeled slug fraternity (Milax gagates, Tandonia budapestensis and Tandonia sowerbyi).
What is eating my potato vine?
A. Tortoise beetles, or sweet potato beetles, are often called “gold bugs” because of their color.
Do rats eat sweet potato vines?
While sweet potato vines have few pest problems, rodents rank as one of the most serious pests in a sweet potato patch. The animals often burrow near the roots, chew on the plants and cause general havoc.
Should I trim my sweet potato vines?
Can I trim them to keep them in bounds? The vines of sweet potatoes tend to ramble far and wide, which is why many home gardeners don’t raise them. If vines are wandering out of bounds, try turning them back into the vegetable garden. It’s best not to trim vines; they help feed the potatoes.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.