Colorado potato beetle

Egbon, I. and A. Alyokhin. 2026. Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) deters Colorado potato beetle—a key pest of cultivated potato. Agrochemicals 2026, 5(2), 15.

Insecticides /

Vernonia amygdalina Delile (Asteraceae), commonly known as bitter leaf, is a tropical shrub that may potentially serve as a biopesticide against the Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a key pest of potatoes. The beetle’s behavioral response to the methanolic leaf extract of V. amygdalina was evaluated in this study. Using no-choice, dual-choice, and wind-tunnel assays under laboratory […]

Egbon, I. and A. Alyokhin. 2026. Vernonia amygdalina (Asteraceae) deters Colorado potato beetle—a key pest of cultivated potato. Agrochemicals 2026, 5(2), 15. Read More »

Dimase, M., B.Z. Bradford, M. Weissner, A. Buzza, B. Manley, A. Alyokhin, R.L. Groves, and B.A. Nault. 2026. Optimizing application timing and frequency of a novel dsRNAi‐based insecticide for Colorado potato beetle management. Pest Management Science 82: 1447-1459.

Insecticides /

BACKGROUND: The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is as important pest of potato, Solanum tuberosum, in the U.S. CPB management is heavily dependent on broad-spectrum insecticides, thereby stimulating an interest to identify alternative solutions. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of ledprona, a dsRNA interference-based bioinsecticide, following different application timings

Dimase, M., B.Z. Bradford, M. Weissner, A. Buzza, B. Manley, A. Alyokhin, R.L. Groves, and B.A. Nault. 2026. Optimizing application timing and frequency of a novel dsRNAi‐based insecticide for Colorado potato beetle management. Pest Management Science 82: 1447-1459. Read More »

Abendroth, J.A., T.W. Moural, C. Cruse, J.A. Hernandez, M. Wolfin, T.C. Baker, A. Alyokhin and F. Zhu. 2025. Pleiotropic functions of an antenna-specific odorant binding protein linking xenobiotic adaptation and olfaction in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Insects 16(12), 1259.

Insecticides, Microevolution /

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is the primary defoliator of potatoes and is notorious for its ability to develop resistance to various insecticides. This remarkable adaptability may partly reflect selective pressures imposed due to the beetle’s coevolution with toxic Solanaceous host plants. As the initial interface between the environment and the insect olfactory system, odorant-binding

Abendroth, J.A., T.W. Moural, C. Cruse, J.A. Hernandez, M. Wolfin, T.C. Baker, A. Alyokhin and F. Zhu. 2025. Pleiotropic functions of an antenna-specific odorant binding protein linking xenobiotic adaptation and olfaction in the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Insects 16(12), 1259. Read More »

Narva, K., U. Toprak, A. Alyokhin, R. Groves, J.L. Jurat‐Fuentes, W. Moar, R. Nauen, S. Whipple, and G. Head. 2025. Insecticide resistance management scenarios differ for RNA‐based sprays and traits. Insect Molecular Biology 34: 518-526.

Insecticides, Microevolution /

RNA-based bioinsecticides that comprise a dsRNA active ingredient and function by RNA interference (RNAi) are being commercialised as insecticidal traits in transgeniccrops and as sprayable biopesticides. These RNAi insecticidal technologies are valuable alternatives to conventional chemical insecticides due to their efficacy, high degree ofspecificity and favourable human and environmental safety profiles. As with all pesticides,

Narva, K., U. Toprak, A. Alyokhin, R. Groves, J.L. Jurat‐Fuentes, W. Moar, R. Nauen, S. Whipple, and G. Head. 2025. Insecticide resistance management scenarios differ for RNA‐based sprays and traits. Insect Molecular Biology 34: 518-526. Read More »

Wenninger, E.J., S.P. DeGrey, J. Insinga, E. Knopf, A. Alyokhin, E. R. Barnes, B. Bradford, R. L. Groves, B. Manley, and J. Piaskowski, 2025. Responses of non-target arthropods to the dsRNA bioinsecticide Calantha™ and conventional insecticides targeting Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). American Journal of Potato Research 102: 129-151.

Abundance Factors, Insecticides /

Management of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) is reliant on conventional insecticides that can negatively affect non-target arthropods. Calantha™ (active ingredient: ledprona) is a sprayable double-stranded RNA biopesticide specific for L decemlineata proteasome subunit beta 5 gene that triggers the RNA-interference pathway and is designed to have limited non-target effects. To test this hypothesis,

Wenninger, E.J., S.P. DeGrey, J. Insinga, E. Knopf, A. Alyokhin, E. R. Barnes, B. Bradford, R. L. Groves, B. Manley, and J. Piaskowski, 2025. Responses of non-target arthropods to the dsRNA bioinsecticide Calantha™ and conventional insecticides targeting Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). American Journal of Potato Research 102: 129-151. Read More »

Gao, Y., A. Alyokhin, A., S.M. Prager, S. Reitz, and A. Huseth. 2025. Complexities in the implementation and maintenance of integrated pest management in potato. Annual Review of Entomology 70: 45-63.

Reviews / , ,

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an educated and systematic effort to use multiple control techniques to reduce pest damage to economically acceptable levels while minimizing negative environmental impacts. Although its benefits are widely acknowledged, IPM is not universally practiced by farmers. Potato farming, which produces one of the most important staple crops in the world,

Gao, Y., A. Alyokhin, A., S.M. Prager, S. Reitz, and A. Huseth. 2025. Complexities in the implementation and maintenance of integrated pest management in potato. Annual Review of Entomology 70: 45-63. Read More »

Gao, Y., A. Alyokhin, R. Zhang, G. Smagghe, S.R. Palli, J.L. Jurat-Fuentes, and B.E. Tabashnik. 2024. Proactive resistance management for sustaining the efficacy of RNA interference for pest control. Journal of Economic Entomology 117: 1306-1308.

Insecticides, Microevolution /

Biopesticides based on RNA interference (RNAi) took a major step forward with the first registration of a sprayable RNAi product, which targets the world’s most damaging potato pest. Proactive resistance management is needed to delay the evolution of resistance by pests and sustain the efficacy of RNAi biopesticides.

Gao, Y., A. Alyokhin, R. Zhang, G. Smagghe, S.R. Palli, J.L. Jurat-Fuentes, and B.E. Tabashnik. 2024. Proactive resistance management for sustaining the efficacy of RNA interference for pest control. Journal of Economic Entomology 117: 1306-1308. Read More »

Yan, J., R. Nauen, S. Reitz, A. Alyokhin, J. Zhang, D. Mota-Sanchez, Y. Kim, S. R. Palli, S. I. Rondon, B. A. Nault, and J. L. Jurat-Fuentes, M. S. Crossley, W. E. Snyder, A.M.R. Gatehouse, M. P. Zalucki, B. E. Tabashnik, and Y. Gao. 2024. The new kid on the block in insect pest management: sprayable RNAi goes commercial. SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences 67: 1766-1768.

Insecticides /

No abstract available, please email me for a reprint.

Yan, J., R. Nauen, S. Reitz, A. Alyokhin, J. Zhang, D. Mota-Sanchez, Y. Kim, S. R. Palli, S. I. Rondon, B. A. Nault, and J. L. Jurat-Fuentes, M. S. Crossley, W. E. Snyder, A.M.R. Gatehouse, M. P. Zalucki, B. E. Tabashnik, and Y. Gao. 2024. The new kid on the block in insect pest management: sprayable RNAi goes commercial. SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences 67: 1766-1768. Read More »

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Baseline susceptibility to a novel dsRNA-based insecticide across US populations of Colorado potato beetle. Agriculture 2023, 13, 2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122283

Insecticides /

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an insect defoliator of the potato, Solanum tuberosum L. This species thrives in agricultural environments because of its flexible and complex life history, as well as its ability to evolve insecticide resistance. As a result, it has become a widely distributed agricultural pest. Ledprona (trade

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Baseline susceptibility to a novel dsRNA-based insecticide across US populations of Colorado potato beetle. Agriculture 2023, 13, 2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122283 Read More »

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Effects of low doses of a novel dsRNA-based biopesticide (Calantha) on the Colorado potato beetle. Journal of Economic Entomology 116: 456-461

Insecticides /

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a destructive pest of the cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum. Members of this species are well-suited to agricultural habitats because of a suite of physiological adaptations and their ability to evolve resistance to multiple insecticides. Recently, a novel double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) insecticide (Calantha, active ingredient ledprona) has

Pallis, S., A. Alyokhin, B. Manley, T. Rodrigues, E. Barnes, and K. Narva. 2023. Effects of low doses of a novel dsRNA-based biopesticide (Calantha) on the Colorado potato beetle. Journal of Economic Entomology 116: 456-461 Read More »