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How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Tobacco flea beetle adult.

Peppers

Flea Beetles

Scientific names:
Potato flea beetle: Epitrix cucumeris
Western potato flea beetle: Epitrix subcrinita
Striped flea beetle: Phyllotreta striolata
Western black flea beetle: Phyllotreta pusilla
Western striped flea beetle: Phyllotreta ramosa and other species

(Reviewed 8/07, updated 8/07)

In this Guideline:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS

Flea beetle adults are small (about 0.125 inch long), shiny, hard beetles with enlarged hind legs that allow them to jump. Different species vary in color and markings. Larvae live primarily in the soil, although larvae in a few of the species may mine leaves or plant stems. Larvae are pale yellow to white with short legs and dark, hard heads. Older larvae may resemble small wireworms.

DAMAGE

Adult flea beetles feed on the undersides of leaves leaving small pits or irregularly shaped holes on the leaves. Large populations can kill or stunt seedlings. Older plants rarely suffer economic damage although their older, lower leaves may be damaged. Adults do most of the damage. Most flea beetle larvae feed on roots, but this activity is not usually of economic concern in peppers.

MANAGEMENT

Flea beetles are common seedling pests and monitoring newly emerged seedlings is critical for detecting a damaging population. Weed control around the field and using transplants also help to minimize damage by these pests.

Cultural Control
Remove weeds along field margins and deeply disk plant residue in infested fields after harvest. Pay particular attention to cruciferous (Brassicaceae) weeds (and crops), which are common hosts from which beetles can migrate into pepper fields. Transplanting peppers usually avoids the problem unless beetle populations are extremely high.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Cultural controls and sprays of pyrethrin are acceptable for use on organically certified produce.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Check newly emerged seedlings for flea beetle damage at least twice weekly until plants are well established. Relatively low populations can cause economic damage when plants are in the cotyledon or first-leaf stages. Once plants have five leaves they can tolerate several beetles per plant without damage. Older plants are even more tolerant. Treat if you find several severely damaged plants in multiple areas; spot treatment of outside rows or borders may be sufficient. Baits are not effective. One insecticide treatment is usually all that is required.

Common name Amount/Acre** R.E.I.+ P.H.I.+
(trade name)   (hours) (days)
When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to impact on natural enemies and honey bees and environmental impact.
 
A. ESFENVALERATE*
  (Asana XL) 5.8–9.6 fl oz 12 7
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
  COMMENTS: Do not exceed 0.35 lb a.i./acre/season. Do not use this product if leafminers are present; it is destructive of their parasites.
 
B. CARBARYL*
  (Sevin 4F or XLR Plus) 0.5–1 qt 12 3
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1A
  COMMENTS: Thorough coverage is important. Do not use if psyllids are present.
 
  (Sevin 80S) 0.66–1.25 lb 12 3
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 1A
  COMMENTS: Thorough coverage is important. Do not use if psyllids are present.
 
C. ENDOSULFAN*
  (Thionex 3EC) 0.66–1.33 qt 48 4
  (Thionex 50WP) 1 lb 48 4
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 2A
  COMMENTS: Do not make more than 2 applications/year.
 
D. PERMETHRIN*
  (Ambush 25W) 6.4–12.8 oz 12 3
  (Pounce 3.2EC) 4–8 fl oz 12 3
  (Pounce 25WP) 6.4–12.8 oz 12 3
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
  COMMENTS: For use on bell peppers only. Do not apply more than 1.6 lb a.i./acre/season. Do not use this product if leafminers are present; it is destructive of their parasites.
 
E. PYRETHRIN#
  (PyGanic) EC 16 oz 12 0
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NUMBER1: 3
  COMMENTS: Begin applications when insects first appear; do not wait until the plants are heavily infested. Apply in sufficient water for thorough coverage of the plants. Apply at intervals of 7 days or less. Repeat as necessary to maintain control.
 
 
**  See label for dilution rates.
+ Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.
# Acceptable for use on organically grown produce.
1 Rotate chemicals with a different mode-of-action Group number, and do not use products with the same mode-of-action Group number more than twice per season to help prevent the development of resistance. For example, the organophosphates have a Group number of 1B; chemicals with a 1B Group number should be alternated with chemicals that have a Group number other than 1B. Mode of action Group numbers are assigned by IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee). For additional information, see their Web site at http://www.irac-online.org/.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Peppers
UC ANR Publication 3460
Insects and Mites
W. E. Chaney, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County
C. F. Fouche, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County
Acknowledgment for contributions to insect and mite section:
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
R. L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County
C. G. Summers, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier

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Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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