![]() Pay particular attention to ensure that any flea beetle insecticides being considered are properly registered for use on the crop.įlea beetles are usually an early season pest and it is best to try and manage their populations prior to flowering. As with all pesticides, carefully read and follow all label directions. For seedlings, two applications may be needed. For transplants, one insecticide treatment is usually all that is required. Applications of these insecticides will be effective for about 7 to 10 days. These include: carbaryl, permethrin, spinosad, and bifenthrin. I’m not sure how effective this would be in our area given the relative abundance of London rocket and other weedy mustard relatives found in our area.Ĭonventional insecticides can also be used on flea beetles. Once beetles are actively feeding in the trap crop, they can be sprayed with an insecticide, or simply harvested. Adult flea beetles will be attracted to the tallest, earliest crops available. Radish is often used to trap cole crop feeders. This is done by planting highly favored crop before you plant your main crop, in an effort to attract flea beetles away from the main crop. ![]() Some growers manage flea beetles by using a trap crop. “Least toxic” repellents can also be used which include: diatomaceous earth, kaolin clay, and neem insecticide. Cultural controls include crop rotation, high seeding rates (to provide lots of sacrificial plants which can be thinned to desired density), and use of transplants (rather than direct seeding). Pyrethrin insecticides are not effective for more than a day or so and repeat applications will probably be necessary. Cultural controls and pyrethrin insecticides are the favored organic treatments. Damage thresholds for treating established plants are when 10-20% of the foliage is destroyed. You should treat flea beetles when small holes show on seedlings or on new transplants. Once plants have five leaves they can tolerate several beetles per plant without damage and older plants become increasingly tolerant. Relatively low flea beetle populations can cause noticeable damage when plants are in the cotyledon or first-leaf stages. Once you learn to recognize the damage, it is somewhat unique and easily distinguishable from other pest damage. I also look carefully below my eggplant transplants to try and see hopping adult flea beetles. Check newly emerged seedlings for flea beetle damage at least twice weekly until plants are well established. Monitor for flea beetles soon after transplanting or after plants emerge. The larvae can also feed on plant roots, but the damage is usually minimal except on potatoes. Flea beetle larvae are very small grubs which live in the soil. In some cases, adults may feed directly on ripe fruits such as tomatoes (I have not observed this in my garden). Leaf feeding also damages plant appearance. Growth may be seriously retarded and plants even killed. As mentioned above, young plants and seedlings are particularly susceptible. ![]() The adults chew many small holes or pits in the leaves, which make them look as if they have been damaged by fine buckshot. In small garden plots, this can make them a yearly problem.įlea beetles produce a characteristic injury known as "shot-holing”. Flea beetles can overwinter on weed hosts surrounding the field, on residues of previous crops, or in the soil if the previous crop was a flea beetle host. They get their name from their well-developed hind legs and when disturbed they jump like fleas. In our area, they particularly impact young plants in the Solanaceae (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants) and cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, kale, arugula, etc.). University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai Countyįlea beetles are small insects, 1/8 inch long or shorter, which can be found on a variety of garden vegetable plants. Jeff Schalau, Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources Backyard Gardener - Flea Beetles in the Garden - June 7, 2017įlea Beetles in the Garden - June 7, 2017
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