How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PESTS

The potato flea beetle is a small (0.065 inch), shiny black beetle. The threespotted flea beetle is two to three times larger and has an orange-colored thorax on which are three prominent dark spots. The palestriped flea beetle is about twice as large as the potato flea beetle. It is dark brown and has a longitudinal creamy white stripe on each wing cover. The tuber flea beetle is about the same size as the potato flea beetle and is also black and somewhat shiny, but has even rows of small indentations on the wing covers. All of the flea beetles have enlarged hind legs and jump vigorously when disturbed, thus the name flea beetle.

DAMAGE

Flea beetle damage is generally a concern only during the cotyledon and early leaf development stages. Damage is caused by adults and consists of numerous small rounded or irregular holes eaten in leaves so that leaves appear to have been peppered with small shot. In young plants this feeding damage can be very serious and result in plant death, thus reducing stands. In addition to adult damage, larvae of the palestriped flea beetle feeds on roots of young plants as well as on germinating seeds.

MANAGEMENT

Keep fields weed-free, particularly of field bindweed and mustard, which are preferred hosts of flea beetles. Replant heavily damaged fields. No economic thresholds are available but consider treatments, especially on young plants, if damage reaches a moderate level. Once plants are well established, flea beetles rarely cause sufficient foliar damage to justify treatment.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Sugarbeet
UC ANR Publication 3469
Insects and Mites
C. G. Summers, Entomology, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
D. R. Haviland, UC IPM Program, Kern Co.
L. D. Godfrey, Entomology, UC Davis

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