Colorado beetle swatting: fast and effective

Due to the dry summers, the Colorado beetle is appearing earlier and in larger numbers in the potato fields. Mechanical control can remove up to 70% of the beetles per field run. The machine uses the natural reflex of the Colorado beetle - when tapped against the plant, they drop as if dead.

The above video shows a front tool that has been specially developed to remove Colorado beetles. Four transparent flaps knock the beetles off the plants, after which they fall into a collection bin and can be destroyed. The speed is set so that each plant is hit three times without damage. The rear linkage remains free, so that the tool can be combined with, for example, a corner hoe or ridger.

Practical Application of the Colorado Beetle Catcher
With a weight of 500 kilos, this machine is easy to operate with a relatively light tractor. There is ample time to collect the beetles, as it takes a few days for the beetles to crawl out of the box again. The beating must be done in dry weather due to possible tracking and because the beetles are less likely to stay in the crop in wet weather.

_{Sources:
The Colorado potato beetle: the striped enemy of potato cultivation
Don't spray the beetle, hit it}

More information:
Professional information for arable farmers