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The American Beetle: The Potato Beetle

In the early 1950s, the potato beetle became a key theme in agricultural propaganda. Its natural spread and overpopulation affected the entire Eastern Bloc, including the Soviet Union. Communist propaganda interpreted this as a deliberate attack by 'American imperialists'. The state responded with extensive measures, establishing specialised commissions and mobilising the public through organised brigades to fight the so-called 'American beetle'. Culture also played an active role in this politicised protection of the harvest. One notable example is the character “Bramborouk the Evil Beetle”, created by writer Ondřej Sekora. This character appeared in newspapers and school textbooks, helping to give a biological problem the face of a “class enemy”.