Count down to Expo!

        The Flea Beetle (scientific name: alticini) is a small pest that chews holes into young plants, killing them quickly. In regards to their physical description, Flea Beetles are small; they range from 1/16-⅕ inches long. Their shells are shiny and can either be dark brown, black or tan in color. Some species also have white or yellow stripes on their wing casings, as well as spots. Flea Beetles are hard to catch, however, because their large rear legs allow them to briskly jump away when disturbed. Flea beetles attack most vegetables, especially cabbage-family plants, potatoes, and spinach. They also feed on flowers and weeds. These pests are a big concern because while they can easily kill one’s crops, they also have the ability to transmit bacterial diseases such as Blight and Wilt.

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        Flea Beetles have the ability to easily infiltrate gardens by laying small, white eggs in soil. These eggs hatch a week after they've been layed and, when hatched, the larvae begin eating away at the roots of the plants, killing them before they can grow to their full potential. Flea beetles prefer younger plants and never go after fully developed ones. This makes it harder to grow a full, luscious garden since the flea beetles kill them at a young stage.

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        Flea beetles’ larvae are thin and cream colored and live underground for 2-3 weeks, eating at tubers, roots, and germinating seeds of young plants before emerging. Before reaching the adult stage, larvae moult twice during 25-34 days. This means they shed their exoskeletons and these exoskeletons can be found on or surrounding the leaves of the crops that have been affected by them. It takes larvae 7 weeks before they're fully adult Flea Beetles.

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        Natural predators of the Flea Beetle include wolf spiders and the larvae of Hoverflies, Braconid Wasps, and Tachinid Fleas. Along with killing these pests, Braconid Wasp and Tachinid Fleas also pollinating your garden, further improving your garden.