A Sampling Network for Insect Pests of Potato in the Columbia Basin of Washington and "Potato Pest Alerts"

An insect sampling network has been in operation in the Columbia Basin of Washington since 2009 to monitor important potato pest populations in the region and to report timely information about their location and size to the potato industry via weekly alerts. It functions as an early warning system that encourages growers to increase scouting in their own potato fields when pests are detected in nearby fields. The sampling network targets four key insects: aphids, beet leafhoppers, potato tuberworms, and potato psyllids. Each of these pests should be observed carefully and managed as needed to limit significant yield and quality losses that can result from the insects feeding, and in the case of aphids, leafhoppers, and psyllids from the plant pathogens they vector. As well as providing current information about the whereabouts of these insects, the sampling network contributes to a better understanding of how they migrate to potato fields, establish populations, transmit pathogens, and damage potato crops in the region. Each year, 35–40 potato fields are monitored weekly from April to October using sampling methods previously established for each of the targeted pests. Results are reported in “potato pest alerts” sent via email to 340 subscribers who are mostly farm owners and managers, crop consultants, and processing company representatives. Each alert is a summary of the week’s findings with pest management recommendations and hyperlinks connecting readers to the project website for additional information. The website includes maps showing insect counts across the region, graphs showing insect population trends, and guidelines about managing the pests. In addition to information about insects, the alerts often include updates regarding potato late blight and other diseases that are present in the region. Subscribers were asked to provide feedback about “potato pest alerts” in an online survey sent February, 2013 (response rate was 24%). It was found that 87% of subscribers have recommended or forwarded the alert emails to colleagues. Most subscribe to get the regional monitoring results (93%), and many also indicated that they like to get information about new pests and diseases (82%), to get late blight information (72%), to get pest management recommendations (50%), and to get guidance on insect scouting methods (49%). They responded that services such as the “potato pest alerts” and the “late blight hotline” are important (29%) or very important (67%) for minimizing pest outbreaks across the region.