Colonization of potato fields by postdiapause Colorado potato beetles, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say

Flight initiation studies of postdiapause Colorado potato beetles (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) showed that flight initiation was not significantly different in two behaviorally distinct populations (with regard to fall flight activity) of CPB, and that most of the unfed postdiapause CPB tested were capable of flight. Research on non-diapause CPB demonstrated that starved and mated CPB were more likely to fly, and postdiapause and non-diapause females can fly before or after oviposition.;Pattern of infestation studies in commercial potato fields documented greater numbers of CPB per plant in edge than center rows in potato fields that were located next to fields that were in potatoes the previous year, and also in fields that were planted early (plants up before June 1). Geostatistical analysis was used to analyze some pattern of infestation data, and the potential uses in CPB pest management are discussed. Additional experiments indicated that CPB will move from plant to plant after the initial colonization of a potato plant.;Experiments with real potato plants and artificial potato plant models showed that vision is important to flying CPB in the orientation to host plants. Potato plant models painted yellow attracted more CPB than real potato plants or green potato plant models. Real potato plants did not attract significantly more flying CPB than green potato plant models. Shapeless yellow cylinders attracted more CPB than yellow potato plant models. The surface area and color of a host plant were important in CPB host orientation. Flying CPB arrived at models only at temperatures above 18$spcirc$C.