Building a Spatially-Explicit Phenology Model for Colorado Potato Beetle: Final Report

This BIOAg progress report documents development of spatial phenology and abundance models for Colorado potato beetle (CPB) to support proactive pest management in Washington potatoes. Using degree-day accumulation and monitoring network data, the team built a phenology model predicting when adults, eggs, larvae, and pupae are present across production regions. The model is integrated into the WSU Decision Aid System, allowing growers to anticipate key thresholds such as 50% egg hatch in the second generation. The project also initiated species distribution models that combine monitoring data, environmental variables, and satellite imagery to forecast CPB abundance across the Columbia Basin. Weekly updates, workshops, and national outreach efforts support adoption. Early impacts include improved spray timing, reduced unnecessary applications, and cost savings for growers. The work has contributed to expansion of decision support tools statewide and nationally through a USDA SCRI award.