Plant Doctor Archive

Green shield beetles

Is there an effective organic method of getting rid of the green shield beetle? They are destroying my tomatoes.

Not being an organic practitioner, I asked the manager of our hortecology unit, Richard Main, for his advice. He had three suggestions: sprays, control of the alternative hosts, and growing resistant tomato varieties.

Richard has heard of both pyrethrum and nicotine sprays being used to control the green shield beetle. He also suggests the removal of any alternative plant hosts, such as cape weed or mallow weed. There are also tomato varieties which are said to be resistant.

The beetles over-winter under garden refuse and pieces of wood in weedy areas, so having a winter tidy-up could also be a good idea.

Advice by Dr Dan Blanchon from Unitec's Diploma in Sustainable Horticulture and Bachelor of Resource Management.

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