The Colorado Beetle is Disappearing in Ukraine: What is Happening to the Population

In the summer of 2025, entomologists noticed that the number of Colorado beetles in Ukraine has decreased. Expert from the Odesa testing phytosanitary laboratory of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Yevheniy Khalayim, explained that the detected decrease in the pest was due to an abnormal drought that occurred in the southern and central regions of the country. According to him, this has led to the fact that in some territories, the Colorado beetle has almost disappeared.

The decrease in the number of Colorado beetles this year was mainly observed in the southern and central regions of Ukraine due to the abnormal drought. Meanwhile, in the northern and western regions, it rained quite often, leading to the preservation of the pest population,' Khalayim explained.

Yevheniy Khalayim also talked about the possibility of fighting the Colorado beetle with the help of the Perillus bug, which is a natural enemy of this pest. He noted that this biological method can be effective in combating these pests in potato fields.

The decrease in the Colorado beetle population in Ukraine in 2025 was associated with the abnormal drought that caused a reduction in the pest's numbers, especially in the southern and central regions. However, some areas that received more precipitation remained unaffected by this phenomenon. The specialist recommends using biological control methods, particularly the Perillus bug, for effective management of this pest population.