POTATO BEETLE

The insect you are talking about, I believe, is the Colorado Potato Beetle. They are approximately three eighths of an inch long, yellowish orange in color with ten lengthwise black stripes on their wing covers and black spots on their thorax. The larvae are humpbacked grubs, dark orange with black spots on their sides. The eggs are bright yellow ovals, standing on end in clusters, on the under side on leaves. Both the adults and larvae chew the leaves potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and other related plants. The adults over winter in the soil and emerge in the spring to feed on young plants. After feeding, the females lay up to 1000 eggs, which hatch in 4 to 9 days. The larvae feed for 2 to 3 weeks, then pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in 5 to 10 days and the cycle starts over.

To control these pests, spray your plants with rotenone/pyrethrin, insect soap or any of the natural sprays available. Or dust the plants with diatomaceous earth, rotenone or tobacco dust, especially under the leaves. You should dust in the mornings while the plants are wet with dew, or after you have wet the plants with a garden hose. There are a number of parasites that also help to control these and other pests. Such as, beneficial nematodes, spine soldier bugs, and parasitic wasps. These are also available through some of the mail order houses.  You might want to try BONIDE"S "Colorado Potato Beetle Beater", I'm told that it works really well.