Pests Beneficial Organisms Insect-Transmitted Diseases Management Options Other Resources Contact a Specialist Other Pests Potatoes are acceptable food for many insects and related arthropods, so growers are bound to encounter unusual critters from time to time. Below is a selection that might be found, with very limited information about each. If more information is desired on any of them, feel free to contact us.   Maggots (fly larvae) Several species of flies (Diptera) are sometimes found feeding on potato plants and tubers. Those feeding on tubers are almost always secondary invaders of diseased tubers. Very small maggots inside leaves (leaf miners) may sometimes be found as well.   False Chinch Bug Sometimes large numbers of insect pests of other crops can be found on potatoes. An example is the false chinch bug (Nysius raphanus; Lygaeidae), which can be found on various weeds and crops, sometimes moving into potato fields. False chinch bug.   Leafhoppers In the Pacific Northwest, the most important leafhopper in potatoes is beet leafhopper because it transmits the very damaging disease called purple top. There are other leafhoppers that are occasionally found in significant numbers. These are usually "potato leafhoppers" in the genus Empoasca, which can cause a syndrome called hopper burn. Hopper burn. Empoasca on potato.   Eumerus (Syrphidae) larvae in rotting tuber. Euxesta (Ulidiidae) larvae in rotting tuber. Fungus gnat larva (Pnyxia). Pnyxia female. Sciaridae fungus gnats.