Home » Plants & Animals » Garden Pests » Flea Beetles

Flea Beetles

© Carla Goodloe

Flea Beetles are found all across North America.

Adults are about 1/10th of an inch long, black, blue-black, or brown-black with stripes. They jump quickly when disturbed, hence the flea part of their name. larvae are thin and white with brown heads. Eggs are white and nearly microscopic.

Flea Beetles thrive on many vegetables, flowers, and weeds. Most species pick one or two plant varieties to munch on. Adults chew tiny holes in leaves. Heavy feeding will leave nothing but a stem. Larvae feed on roots and tubers in the ground, leaving snaky markings on potatoes and other root crops. The damage can spread diseases such as blight, brown rot, spindle tuber, and potato scab.

Adults overwinter close to the surface of soil and emerge in spring when their host plants sprout. Adults feed, then lay eggs on or in the soil near the base of plants. Eggs hatch, larvae burrow into the ground and eat their fill of whatever they can. They begin to pupate and emerge as adults on the soil surface. Two to four generations per year, depending on climate.

Control methods include braconid wasps, soil-dwelling nematodes, and tachinid flies. They prey on all life cycles of the beetle, so having them around is a very good investment.

Also, keep garden free of weeds and debris. Cultivate frequently, including winter months, to destroy larvae and eggs in soil. Plant large transplants and encourage fast growth. Plant resistant varieties with hairy or waxy leaves. Protect young plants with row covers. Flea Beetles prefer full sun and dry conditions, so sprinkle their favorite treat with water lightly in the middle of the day and plant susceptible crops next to tall crops that will partially shade them. Delay planting to avoid peak populations. Mix up your plantings to confuse them. (Oh what fun we could have at their expense.) Use traps baited with beer as you would for slugs and snails.

Californians: note that flea beetles also attack grapes.

The copyright of the article Flea Beetles in Garden Pests is owned by . Permission to republish Flea Beetles in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.