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by W.S. Cranshaw¹ (1/19)

Quick Facts…

Figure 1: Adult flea beetles chew small pits in the leaf surface. This produces a type of injury known as a shothole.

Figure 3: A leafy spurge flea beetle. Three species of flea beetles occur in Colorado that feed on leafy spurge, a serious invasive weed.

Figure 4: Larva of a western black flea beetle. Most flea beetle larvae develop on the roots of plants.

Figure 5: Surface wounding of potato caused by feeding injuries of the tuber flea beetle.

Figure 6: Apple flea beetle larvae develop on the leaves and flowers of evening primrose.

Figure 7: Adult apple flea beetles feed on leaves of many garden flowers, shrubs and vines.

Figure 8: Flea beetle feeding normally causes little effect to well established plants. These injuries were produced by potato flea beetle, the common flea beetle on potatoes and tomatoes.

• Flea beetles are small beetles that jump when disturbed.
• They damage plants by chewing small “shotholes” in the foliage.
• Flea beetles can be found on a wide variety of plants. However, most flea beetles attack only a few, closely related plant species.
• Flea beetle injury is most important when seedlings are becoming established or in the production of leafy vegetables. Injuries are usually minor and easily outgrown on established plants.

Flea beetles are small beetles that jump.  The adult beetles feed on leaves, chewing small pits that produce shothole wounds, resembling injuries that might be produced by fine buckshot.  Young stages (larvae) of most flea beetles feed on the roots but some develop chewing leaves.

Young plants and seedlings are particularly susceptible to flea beetle damage. Growth may be seriously retarded and in severe infestations plants can be killed.  The holes in leaves also damage plant appearance, which can be important when growing certain leafy vegetables and ornamental flowers.

Dozens of species of flea beetles are found in Colorado (Table 1). Although there is some overlap of tastes, each type of flea beetle has a decided preference for certain plants. For example, some flea beetles feed only on potatoes, tomatoes and other members of the nightshade family. Others have a taste for broccoli, cabbage and other crucifer crops.  One group of flea beetles (Aphthona species) was purposefully introduced into the state to feed on and help manage leafy spurge, an important invasive weed.

Life History and Habits

Flea beetles spend the winter in the adult stage, hidden under leaves, dirt clods or in other protected sites. They typically begin to become active during warm days in early-mid Spring and then seek out the types of plants on which they feed. Flea beetles can fly well and may fly long distances in search of suitable plants.

Adults of all flea beetles feed on leaves of plants.  However, immature stages (larvae) may have differing habits.  Most develop in the soil, feeding on plant roots.  Soil-dwelling flea beetle larvae are very small, pale-colored and worm-like.  Normally they cause little, if any, significant damage to the plants.  Exceptions include larvae of the tuber flea beetle, which can cause scarring of potato tubers, and larvae of flea beetles that feed on leafy spurge.  Flea beetles that develop in the soil as larvae often can produce 2 or 3 generations a season, such as the “cabbage flea beetles” and the “potato flea beetles”.

A small number of flea beetles have larvae that develop on the leaves of plants. Apple flea beetle, which has larvae that develop on evening primrose, is an example of a flea beetle with this habit.  The types of flea beetles have larvae that are black or gray and have small legs. The larvae produce large and irregular holes in leaves rather than shotholes. Flea beetles that develop on leaves include the larger kinds of flea beetles, with apple flea beetle being the most common species.  Adults do not make shotholes but chew in a more generalized pattern.  Flea beetles with larvae that develop on leaves often have only a single generation a year but the adults may be present for several months.

Flea Beetle Management

Although flea beetles are common, injuries often are insignificant to plant health. On established plants, 20-30 percent or more of the leaf area must be destroyed before there is any effect on yield. The plants most likely to benefit from treatment are more sensitive seedlings, plants grown for ornamental purposes or for edible greens, and potatoes that may be affected by tuber flea beetle larvae.

Cultural Controls

Because seedlings are most at risk, use transplants or plant seeds in a well-prepared seedbed to hasten growth and allow plants to overcome injury. In home gardens, try high seeding rates to spread the injuries produced by adult feeding. Thin the plants once they are established and less susceptible to damage.Trap crops work in some situations. This involves purposefully planting a highly favored crop to attract flea beetles away from the main crop. The best regional example of this practice involves use of radish or daikon to protect seedlings of other crucifers (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts) that are susceptible to western black flea beetle and crucifer flea beetle. The trap crop may then be harvested or destroyed after the main crop has established itself sufficiently to outgrow flea beetle injury.

It may also be possible to avoid injury by scheduling plantings so that seedlings are emerging during periods of low flea beetle activity.  Cabbage flea beetles are usually most damaging in June, when they move from winter annual mustard weeds, such as flixweed, on which the early spring generation develops.  Most vegetable crops that are well established can tolerate a large amount of injury by flea beetles without affecting yield.

Mechanical and Physical ControlsFloating row covers or other screening can exclude the beetles during seedling establishment. In isolated plantings, thick mulches may also help reduce the number of flea beetles by interfering with activity of the root and soil stages.Flea beetles can be collected off foliage using sweep nets or a portable vacuum.  Care must be made when using these methods as flea beetles will readily jump from plants and escape treatment.  Sweep net/vacuum treatments must be repeated frequently as reinvasion of plants can be rapid.

Biological Controls

There are numerous natural enemies of flea beetles – predators, parasitoids, and disease producing pathogens.  Most of these attack larval stages and these regularly help reduce overall populations of flea beetles.  However, flea beetle adults are highly mobile and no biological controls that can be applied by a gardener will likely reduce flea beetle damage in a planting.

Chemical Controls

When high numbers of flea beetles are present on plants and threaten injury insecticides are usually the most effective means to manage the problem (Table 2).  Some flea beetle products act to repel flea beetle feeding (e.g. diatomaceous earth, kaolin clay) but most can kill flea beetles.  However, among those insecticides there is a considerable range in how long they can work to protect plants from flea beetles – from a few hours (pyrethrins) to several days (cypermethrin, cyhalothrin). Since the most serious problems with flea beetles involve species that are highly mobile and readily reinvade plantings (cabbage flea beetles, apple flea beetle), insecticides with longer persistence will usually work best. Often more than one application may be needed to protect seedling crops since leaf growth produced after application will be little protected.

As with all pesticides, carefully read and follow all label directions. Pay particular attention to ensure that any flea beetle insecticides being considered are properly registered for use on the crop.

Figure 9: Leafy vegetables, particularly brassicas such as arugala, mustard greens, and Chinese cabbage are among the plants that are most damaged by flea beetles.

Figure 10: Palestriped flea beetle has a wide host range and can be found on many vegetable and flower crops.

Figure 11: “Spinach flea beetles” are common on pigweeds and related weeds and only rarely damage garden vegetables.

^* W.S. Cranshaw, Colorado State University Extension entomologist and professor. 1/99. Revised 1/19.

Colorado State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Colorado counties cooperating. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination. No endorsement of products mentioned is intended nor is criticism implied of products not mentioned.Go to top of this page.