One day everything in the
garden looks good then, seemingly overnight, the damage starts to show up,
especially on vegetables. Leaves will appear riddled with holes, often lacey
looking. These symptoms are the result of flea beetle activity. Flea beetles are common pests of many vegetable crops,
but they will also damage flowers and shrubs. The adult flea beetle is small
and often shiny. If disturbed, they will jump hence the name “flea beetle”. Flea
beetles will attack most vegetables. They particularly like plants in the
cabbage family, potatoes and spinach, but they will also feed on flowers,
shrubs and weeds, depending on the availability of food.
Flea beetles winter over in the garden under debris or leaf litter and
emerge as temperatures warm up in the spring.
Flea beetle can be controlled
with dusts such as Captain Jacks DeadBug (Spinosad), or liquids such as Bonide
Eight or Neem oil.
Diatomaceous earth can also be very effective when applied
directly to the plant and surrounding soil.
Floating row cover is made from a
woven cloth that allows light and moisture in, but keeps bugs out. The key to
row covers is to keep the edges sealed so the bugs cannot get in. Do not
install row covers if beetles or other insects are already present. Treat the
crops first to remove any insects then install the row cover to prevent further
damage.