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!
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鈥檚 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鈥攍ike fleas鈥攊f 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 50潞F (10掳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 鈥渟hotholes鈥 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鈥檛 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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I’m not sure if a study has been done as to the minimum ratio of alcohol/water plus soap for effectiveness. However, you are right to be concerned about burning plants. With alcohol sprays, always test a solution on a small area before spraying an entire plant or crop; some plants may be more sensitive than others. You might try a solution with a small percentage of alcohol to water and work up to determine the minimum you can use and still have it be effective. As to vinegar, same precautions. One must be very careful about proportions, or as you have read, the vinegar’s acetic acid can kill plants (at higher concentrations, vinegar is used as an herbicide). Some sources suggest avoiding using it at all, especially on vegetables or flowers. Others suggest 3 parts water to 1 part vinegar, and only spraying leaves. If you try this route, you might try diluting the solution even further, then testing on a small area first. Hope this helps!
We have stacks of blue flea beetles on our land and see them as a blessing. They got on top of the dreaded buzzies and congregate in large clusters on dying vegetation. Our little granddaughter treats them as pets. They are most welcome apart from being beautiful.
We have these little suckers everywhere on our property. Vegetable garden, strawberry patch and the house garden and natives. Any clues how to treat. Not sure about the rubbing alcohol on food we will be eating. And how to treat such a large area.
Take old coffee grounds and about 5 or so drops of hot sauce care not to use much hot sauce as it can burn roots but put that at base of all plants .. For leaves i use flour once a week on all my plants.. The only down side i seen with flour was little dough balls in my yard but they go away in a short period of time after it rains i reapply everything again
Hi, Betty: Sorry to hear! It sounds like these might be blue milkweed beetles, which always pose a tricky problem because hosts for them like milkweed and oleander, which you would want to eliminate if nearby, are also beneficial to monarch butterflies and others. The best thing to do is bite the bullet and try to physically remove as many as possible by plucking or even using a handheld battery-operated vac. Another option is an organic insecticide applied very specifically to aggregations of beetles where found. It’s important to try to do this before they lay their eggs, so alacrity is of the essence. Good luck!
Do shining flea beetles bit and we found one in our house but we don't have any plants inside or outside our home
Is there any risk in eating the plants that were infected with flea beetles? My entire crop of Arugula was infested and now my Brussels sprouts are getting eaten as well. I am also noticing small brown balls where they sprouts are growing. Any advice is appreciated.
WHAT ARE THE CATIPILLARS THAT PUNCH THROUGH THE HUSKS AND INTO THE CORN EAR AND HOW DO YOU PREVENT THIS.
THANKS
Mineral oil. A few drops into the silks at top of ear. Works like a charm
The corn earworm is the larvae of a tan night-flying moth. Wait 'til the ears start to fill out and put 1 or 2 drops of mineral or vegetable oil on the silks. You can also treat the corn with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
