The Potato Bug (Stonopelmatus fuscus), or the Jerusalem cricket, is a type of insect related to grasshoppers and crickets. Called Who-tzi-Neh or the old bald-headed man, by indigenous cultures, potato bug has many names because of their awkward and unique appearance.
They share their common name with many different kinds of insects. Leading to confusing claims of a misunderstood creature. While potato bugs are often confused as the potato beetle, which is a pest that is detrimental to horticulture.
Potato bug, however, is the innocent — yet unappealing — underdog. To be clear, this article is about the potato bug, not the potato beetle.
In this article, we’ll dive into everything about the potato bug, its often-confused enemy: potato beetle and also the pill bug and how they are beneficial in the ecosystem, by breaking things down, so that they can be used as food by other organisms, and contributing to the nutrient cycle, in other words food web.
Now, will the real potato bug, please stand up?
What Are Potato Bugs?
These bugs are related to the class of organisms, order of orthoptera, which include grasshoppers and cricket. These bugs are omnivores, as they eat mostly plant matter but will occasionally eat insects or carrion. They have powerful, sharp jaws and will bite if handled carelessly.
Their pinch may hurt, but they are all bite and no bark because they are neither poisonous or venomous in any way.
Typically, a solitary insect, the potato bug leads a fossorial existence. This means it spends most of its life underground. The best time to catch a glimpse is in the spring, when they go up to the surface to mate. They are nocturnal because they forage for food, primarily, at night.
They are placed within the family Stenopelmatus, and are native to the South Western United States. However, you can find them along the West Coast of the United States, Canada, and up until Mexico and Central America.
Identification Of Potato Bugs
This is one weird-looking bug! This potato bug has a large, stout body, with armor and a round, shiny bald head to boot. This bug can grow to over 3 inches (8 centimeters) in length.
They have antennae that are positioned underneath black bead-like eyes that are set far apart from each other. These bugs are wingless and spent their time in or on the ground. They have thick, strong legs that are barbed with spines that they use for digging.
One could say they look like a cross, of a cricket and a millipede!
“Types” Of Potato Bugs
These bugs are often confused with potato beetles and pill bugs. These guys get a bad rep because of a similar common name. That is the main reason Latin names are so important.
Potato beetles, pill bugs, and potato bugs are completely unrelated, one is not even an insect! Let’s clarify their differences, what types of roles they have in their environment, and which of the three to keep an eye out for in the garden.
What Are Potato Bugs?
- They belong to the grasshopper family.
- They are decomposers in their habitat.
- They are not a pest in your garden.
- They are a friend to gardeners.
What Are Potato Beetles?
- Potato beetles belong to the beetle family.
- Also known as the Colorado potato beetle.
- They are a threat, or major garden pest. The potato beetle can be problematic to your garden and to crops, the potato beetle is harmful to potatoes, carrots, and eggplants.
- Potato beetles are a prey species, within their ecosystem.
Best Practices For Managing Potato Beetles In The Garden
When considering effective control methods of managing the potato beetle in the back yard or community garden, it is important to understand that this insect develops resistance to chemical sprays and pesticides very easily.
More sustainable removal methods are less efficient for this insect.
Remove by methods like:
- Standing Stubble: Leaving grass or plant roots after harvesting acts as a deterrent and attracts the potato beetle away from your other specialty crops
- Crop rotation: Rotate crops each season to stop the spread of this bug
- Biological mitigation: If you can add ducks or chickens to your garden they will enjoy snacking on the beetles!
What Are Pill Bugs?
- Pill bugs are an isopod, a non-insect arthropod.
- Pill bugs are crustaceans that are terrestrial.
- Pill bugs are relatives of crayfish and lobsters.
- Pill bugs are not harmful currently or in the past in terms of bites.
- Pill bugs have strong armor-like shells for defense from predators.
- Pill bugs curl into a ball for greater protection.
- Pill bugs decompose organic matter in their environment to assist in the process of life.
Potato Bug Life Cycle
Back to the potato bug! Their life cycle is classified as incomplete metamorphosis and is made up of three stages: egg, nymph and adult. The first part of their life cycle is the slowest and the potato bug spent 2 – 5 years as a fully developed adult.
Egg
The egg stage occurs when small clusters of eggs are laid in the soil. The eggs themselves are small (0.1-inch, 3 mm), oval shapes and resemble a small bird’s nest, set up on the soil.
Nymph
The egg will hatch which puts them into the nymph stage. The nymphs are also tunnels underground and begin to eat. They will molt many times during the nymph stage. The nymph stage will last to adult stage within 1.5 years or longer depending on the species.
Adult
It will take about 1.5 years for the potato bug to become sexually mature. As an adult the potato bug lives 2-6 months while they mate and deposit eggs.
The mating season includes a drumming beat, this is a time when both males and females participate. They use their shelled abdominal part to drum on the ground to create a drumming noise.
Typically, we are unable to hear the beat of the drumming, but there are some species of potato bugs that can drum loud enough for humans to hear through soil!
Where Do Potato Bugs Live?
Habitat
Potato bugs are found in the Southwest US and into southern British Columbia, Canada; Mexico; and Central America.
Potato bugs are also found in the Midwest to west coast, and as far east as to encompass Colorado; Dakotas; Kansas; Texas; Oklahoma; Nebraska and Constitution’s.
With such a range of distribution, these bugs can be found to inhabit the following main habitats.
- Woodland ecosystems
- Grasslands
- Desert habitats
Potato bugs live most of their lives underground. They prefer sandy, loam soils over clay. They are attracted to moist soils and debris. When trying to find potato bugs, it’s always best to check under a couple of rocks and a decomposing log or two.
Potato Bugs and What They Eat
What do Potato Bugs Eat?
Potato bugs have a specific dietary profile. They spend their lives feeding under the surface of the earth. Their main diet consists of roots, tubers, and decaying organic material.
They are nocturnal and above-ground periods of the potato bug are when they will feed on carrion and other plant detritus. Potato bugs are most likely to come out above ground after it rains.
In the garden they will be able to feed on the tubers of dahlias, potatoes, and carrots. Potato bugs are generally not harmful to your crops, but they could nibble on the tubers and other root vegetables.
Potato Bugs in Houses and Gardens
Potato bugs have been known to live year-round in people’s homes. They are attracted to moisture and wetness. So, if you have potato bugs in your home, you got moisture or wet conditions in your house.
Potato Bugs and the Benefits They Bring
Potato bugs have never played one worth recognizing. Potato bugs are a high protein source for animals that are in higher levels of the food web.
The most important role potato bugs play is in any nutrient cycling they participate in. Potato bugs participate in decomposition by eating dead plant and animal parts. Doing this means that they also help contribute to healthy soils with good organic matter.
Are Potato Bugs Harmful to plants?
No, potato bugs are not harmful to plants. Potato bugs have plenty of food sources and do not eat only root type vegetables.
Potato bugs are solitary bugs. You are never going to encounter potato bugs in large numbers. Potato bugs are good for soils because of their contributions towards machining nutrient cycling and soil aeration.
Sustainable ways to get rid of potato bugs
If you have potato bugs on your home or garden, and want to mitigate them, here are sustainable ways to do so:
- you will want to remove moisture from your house or garden. A dehumidifier will work inside, but will take some time to make the surroundings less appealing to the potato bug. You might want to also seal any cracks in your house and make it as hard as possible to live there.
- You will always want to clean up debris from your garden. You should always keep this in mind of the local important bugs that will also be loosing there homes and habitat. Remember. If you clean up your garden to mitigate your pests, you may be also cleaning up important habitat for many valuable bugs like pollinators.