Controlling Flea Beetles
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| The flea beetle is about one-sixteenth of an inch long. |
These tiny beetles earn their name by jumping like fleas when disturbed, but the similarity ends there. Various species are involved, so specific markings and colorations vary. The blue-black flea beetle shown in the photo is the most common. All flea beetles prefer hot and dry conditions, and all chew a multitude of tiny holes in the leaves of vegetables such as eggplant. Flea beetles can spread diseases, such as early blight, to potatoes or bacterial wilt to corn, and larvae feed on roots. In the southwest, flea beetles are a major pest of dichondra lawns. Adults overwinter in the soil and on garden debris, emerging in early spring.
Controls
- Eliminate opportunities for overwintering adults by removing plant debris and similar potential hiding places in the fall.
- Cover seedlings with garden fabric until adults die off.
- In dry climates, keep garden beds moist, making them less attractive to egg-laying adults.
- Cultivate soil frequently.
- Add beneficial nematodes to soil, and spray infested plants with neem or pyrethrin
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