The “Colorado Beetle Catcher” has been developed to deal with the growing problem of Colorado beetles in potato cultivation.

The machine takes advantage of the natural behavior of Colorado potato beetles. They drop and play dead for a while when the plant is tapped.

The results of this new machine seem good. A significant part of the beetles and larvae is removed from the potato crop.

The basis of the machine consists of hydraulically driven rotors with flaps. The beetles and larvae are then collected in the trays between the potato ridges.

Based on extensive testing in 2020, two new prototypes have been developed this year (2021):

One for the front of the tractor. This is tiltable and has a separate storage box in which the beetles and larvae can be stored.

Because the machine is at the front of the tractor, this makes it possible to earth at the same time.

One for behind the tractor.

The machine will be delivered before 2022 in the following variants:

Working width: 4 rows of potatoes
Front/rear on the tractor
Tiltable + collection bin / rigid without collection bin
Transport width < 2.70 m

We will demonstrate the machine at the BioVelddag 2021 and Potato Europe 2021.

The Colorado Beetle Catcher is an initiative of Joris van der Kamp – Van der Kamp Consult. In a collaborative project with growers Joost van Strien, Henk Klompe, Gerard Brinks and FieldWorkers, the idea has been developed from concept to machine ready for use.

The Project Colorado Beetle Catcher: Sustainable Machine Pest Control has been made possible in part by the province of Flevoland and the EU. Europe invests in its countryside. The Organic Agriculture Innovation Prize Foundation also made a contribution.