Flea beetles can be very destructive to a wide variety of plants, so be sure to take preventative measures.
Learn How to Prevent These Garden Pests!
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How to Identify Flea Beetles on Plants
Given that there are so many species of flea beetles, they vary in appearance quite a bit. Colors range from black to tan, with other, brighter colors mixed in, and the beetles may have a solid, striped, or spotted pattern, depending on the species.
To identify flea beetles, it’s easier to look for signs of their damage (described below) than for the beetles themselves. At only 1/16 of an inch in length, flea beetles are very tiny and will quickly spring away—like fleas—if they see you approach!
When Do Flea Beetles Appear?
Adult flea beetles overwinter in brush and wooded areas. Adult bugs pose the biggest threat early in the planting season as they are emerging, typically when outdoor temperatures reach 50ºF (10°C). At this time, seedlings are being planted, too, and they are most susceptible to beetle damage.
Eggs are laid at the base of plant stems in early summer after the spring feeding period, and larvae feed at the roots.
What Flea Beetle Damage Looks Like
Adult beetles feed on foliage, producing “shotholes” in the leaves. Look out for these holes, especially on young seedlings, where damage is most rapid and will cause the most harm. The holes they make will be round and can quickly ruin leafy greens. New leaves are usually damaged first and will have a lacy appearance.
Flea beetles usually don’t cause fatal damage to established plants because the leaves are already large enough to survive a few holes. The real danger is that the beetles can spread bacterial diseases, such as wilt and blight, from plant to plant. Additionally, in leafy crops like lettuce or spinach, the holes can bring down the quality of the leaves. Therefore, they are still important to consider as pests.
Catherine Boeckmann
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My gardening friend keeps her eggplants in large pots on a surface 3' above ground, outside the flea beetle's jumping range. Seems to work. Plants are robust and damage free.
I have had some luck with putting wood ash on the leaves .. I grow Callaloo in Tennessee and these beetles are a major problem for us ..
This article says that the flea beetles are repelled by nasturtiums but actually, they seem to be ravaging mine this year.
Yes, nasturtiums can be used as a trap crop; they will take the focus of the flea beetles away from the more valuable crops you are growing.
they live indoors and will jump
This totally did NOT work, nor did placing peppermint leaves on the eggplants. I saw more flea beetles after I sprayed than before. I think they loved it. I only have 6 eggplants, so I picked the beetles off and put them in soapy water. That killed them!
Tried this home brew recipe and 5 mins later, flea beetles were back, happy as ever. This treatment totally does not work. Just FYI.
Do they live indoors
yea and they will jump on you
No, cucumber beetles are not generally a problem indoors, unless they’ve hitchhiked on your clothing or a plant that you brought inside. Even then, they are unlikely to reproduce indoors.
