Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp) are small beetles that chew holes in plants and roots. They lay eggs in the soil and nymphs feed on new seedlings’ roots. There are dozens of species of flea beetles in Colorado but they all jump and produce “buckshot” holes in vegetation. They lie inactive during winter months and emerge when new plants flush out.
Varieties of flea beetle in Northern Colorado include: leafy spurge (successfully introduced to control invasive plant-leafy spurge sound in Colorado), cabbage, potato, tuber, western black, apple, pale striped, spinach (the biggest of the flea beetles), tobacco, sumac, horseradish
- Attracted to
- Level of Concern
- Gardeners take note
- What months
- Apr–Aug
- Treatment / Useful Links
Plan plantings when flea beetle populations are the lowest, or consider transplanting vulnerable plants instead of starting from seed in the garden. Thin established plants to reduce susceptibility and consider planting a sacrificial crop like radish to attract and remove beetles before cash crop planting.
Concern increases when predated plants struggle to photosynthesize.
For more information:
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/flea-beetles-5-592/