Bugs

Various bugs, polyphagous insects of the order Hemiptera, can cause injuries to the foliage or tubers of potato plants due to their piercing-sucking feeding habits.

Bugs usually have no effect on yield but they may cause numerous punctuations and deformation on the potato foliage and capsid bugs (Lygus pabulinus) can also cause damage to tubers when piercing young tubers.

The bite remains visible at the bottom of the deforming crack, the toxins carried in the bug saliva may interfere with tuber growth.