The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is a very serious insect pest of potato, Solanum tuberosum. This species has high fecundity, a diverse and flexible life history, and a strong propensity for evolving insecticide resistance. As a result, it is a challenging pest to control. New active ingredients are constantly needed to replace older chemicals that fail due to resistance. RNA interference using dsRNA shows a good promise in this regard. We conducted a series of laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments to test the effects of a newly developed dsRNA, ledprona, on Colorado potato beetles. Our results indicate that ledprona is a relatively slow acting, but effective, insecticide that has no detectable effect on non-target arthropods. It is likely to be an excellent component of integrated pest management programs directed against the Colorado potato beetles. It is also a valuable tool for managing resistance in Colorado potato beetle populations. However, it must be used judiciously; otherwise, it may itself fall victim to resistance developing in the target beetle populations.
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