Remember these?

[Pommier]

I planted a solanum (potato vine) in our new garden and although it grew, it was trying to be a bush instead of a climber!

I pruned off all the stems which were going the wrong way and tied it up, but within a couple of days it was smothered in Colorado beetles.

I knew them from those faded dusty posters that used to be outside police stations when I was a child and I felt quite reminiscent (for a couple of minutes!).

I tried spraying with Roseclear (the only bug killer I've got) to no effect, so picked off and squashed them all.

There have been the odd ones since, which I've despatched the same way. Is that the best (only) way to get rid of them? I have to say I'm glad I haven't got hundreds of potato plants as the speed they were eating the solanum was incredible.

[Hoddy]

I don't think there is Pommier.

I have a special pair of old rubber gloves which I keep for the purpose. Ugh.

Hoddy

[andyh4]

Look under the leaves for clutches of bright orange eggs and squash these too.  If zou think the beetles do damage you should see the disgusting grubs!