The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is a species ofinsect in the Coleoptera order and Chrysomelidae family with yellow elytra striped with black. This phytophagous insect, which specialises in plants in the Solanaceae family, is a major pest of both adults and larvae of potato crops, which can be destroyed by total defoliation. It can also attack other Solanaceae crops such as tomatoes andaubergines. While it remains a serious problem in certain regions (north-eastern United States, Canada, Eastern Europe), it is less of a problem these days in Western Europe, particularly France.
Native to Mexico, where it originally lived at the expense of wild Solanaceae, it was first discovered in the United States, where it invaded potato crops at the end of the 19th century, before being introduced to Europe at the end of the First World War. It has since spread throughout most of North America, as well as the temperate zones of the Old World and as far afield as the Far East. Its potential for expansion is still high, as it is absent from important potato-growing areas, including Latin America, Australia, the Indian subcontinent and much of China. Classified as a quarantine pest by all regional plant protection organisations, it is subject to strict surveillance measures to prevent its spread. Control of the CPB still relies heavily on chemical insecticides, despite the emergence of resistance to all classes of substances used.()
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