Rarely do hormworms cause losses to potato yields. Flea beetles cause the small shot-hole damage to leaves. These tiny beetles overwinter as adults and may appear in fields very early in the season and cause serious damage to young plants. Sevin provides very good control of flea beetles when they are numerous on small plants. Systemic Insecticides Planting time use of systemic insecticides allows protection against moderate levels of soil insects plus activity against leaf-feeding pests such as aphids, leafhoppers and flea beetles.
Insecticidal effects are generally greatest during the early part of the growing season.
These insecticides are highly toxic and should be used with extreme care. Read the label thoroughly and use protective equipment. These materials require specialized application equipment. A variety of insecticides may be used on potatoes to control insect pests. Repeated sprays may be needed in some years, especially against late season pests.