Sum of Effective Temperatures in Colorado Beetle Control

The Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), is a major pest of potato crops in Poland. Both the striped beetle and the black-spotted, red larva feed on potato leaves. Their damage can greatly reduce yield and even kill plants. The paper shows the results of the studies aimed at capabilities of developing model to be used in pest control. The research was conducted in the years 2013-2014 at the Plant Protection Institute – National Research Institute in Poznań, Poland. The obtained results will be helpful in the further stages of developing a model and a computer application supporting the decision to protect the potato by applying chemical treatment against the Colorado beetle.