Q&A - What has been eating my sweet potatoes?
Question:
What has been eating my sweet potatoes?
Answer:
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says this looks like white grub damage on the sweet potato. There are many kinds of white grubs. They eat a small amount on the tuber when it is young and then as the sweet potato grows the damage appears to get bigger. It is also possible that the damage is caused by white fringe beetle larva, wireworm or root worm. White grubs are easy to control but since this is food crop you need to be careful what you use, and only use insecticides labeled for use on sweet potatoes. But even with the damage the sweet potatoes are still edible, just cut off the bad spots.
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What has been eating my sweet potatoes?
Answer:
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says this looks like white grub damage on the sweet potato. There are many kinds of white grubs. They eat a small amount on the tuber when it is young and then as the sweet potato grows the damage appears to get bigger. It is also possible that the damage is caused by white fringe beetle larva, wireworm or root worm. White grubs are easy to control but since this is food crop you need to be careful what you use, and only use insecticides labeled for use on sweet potatoes. But even with the damage the sweet potatoes are still edible, just cut off the bad spots.
Related Videos:
Planting Sweet Potatoes
Is it too late to plant sweet potatoes?
Related Resources:
Sweet Potato & Irish Potato Insects
Pests of Sweetpotato