Pest identification
and confirmation—Flea beetles
Their small size, enlarged back legs, characteristic shot-hole damage, and habit of jumping when disturbed
make flea beetles easy to identify. There are numerous flea beetle species. The tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix
hirtipennis, which is brown with black markings across its back, and the western potato flea beetle,
E. subcrinita, which is shiny bronze or black, are widespread in the western U.S. The tuber flea
beetle, E. tuberis, is found in Washington and Oregon. Other common flea beetles are the western
black flea beetle, Phyllotreta pusilla, which is shiny black to dark olive green, and the western
striped flea beetle, P. ramosa, which is black with a white or yellow curved stripe along each
side of the back. All flea beetles are tiny, less than 0.10 inch long, and jump like fleas when disturbed.
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Adult
tobacco flea beetle
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