The Colorado potato beetle has almost disappeared in the regions of Ukraine: reasons and consequences.

Decrease in the number of Colorado potato beetles in Ukraine

According to inkorr.com: In the summer of 2025, specialists recorded a significant decrease in the population of the Colorado potato beetle in Ukraine. According to Yevgeny Halayim from the Odesa Testing Phytosanitary Laboratory of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumers Protection, this occurred due to an abnormal drought that affected the southern and central regions of the country. In some areas, the beetle has practically disappeared.

"The decrease in the number of Colorado potato beetles this year has been observed mainly 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," Halayim explained.

Yevgeny Halayim also raised the issue of controlling the Colorado potato beetle using the predator bug, a natural enemy of this pest. He noted that this biological method could prove to be very effective in controlling the pest in potato fields.

Thus, the decrease in the Colorado potato beetle population in Ukraine in 2025 was a result of the abnormal drought, which most affected the southern and central regions. Other regions where more precipitation was recorded did not experience such a decline. The specialist suggests paying attention to biological control methods, including the predator bug, for effective control of this pest population.

This situation highlights the importance of monitoring climatic conditions and adapting to them in agronomy. In the context of climate change, farmers must seek new ways to combat pests to preserve their harvests and ensure the country's food security.