| Life Cycle: | The potato flea beetle overwinters in Atlantic Canada as an adult in the soil. They are black and just under 2 mm in length and 1 mm wide. The potato flea beetle has one generation per season. In the spring the beetle moves into the potato field and begin feeding on emerging potato plants. Eggs are laid in the soil at the base of the host plant. The eggs hatch in approximately one week. The larvae are small white grubs with blackish or dark brown heads. The larvae will feed on the roots of the host plants for 4-5 weeks as they mature. Pupation takes place in the soil and requires one week. The adults begin emerging at the end of July and continue to emerge until the end of August. They will feed on the folliage of the host plant until it is time to seek shelter in the field and prepare to overwinter. |
| Host: | The potato is the primary host but the potato flea beetle will also attack tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and eggplants. |
| Bio Region: | Throughout North America. |
| Damage: | The potato flea beetle causes damage to host crops in three ways. The adult beetle chews holes through the leaves of the plant. When there is an infestation, the plants may look like they have been blasted with 'shot'. The larvae will feed on the roots and the tuber. While both of these attacks can stunt the plant's growth, the main threat from potato flea beetles is the opportunities they create for soil borne diseases to establish themselves. These include: common scab, fusarium rot, rhizoctonia, and verticillium wilt. |
| Management: | Potato flea beetles tend to overwinter in soil in and around the host plant. This is particularly true if there is uncultivated land in the vicinity of the host. Rotation and the use of row covers are effective measures. So is the removal of plant debris and the mowing of grassland in the area that could insulate the beetle from extreme cold which could limit spring populations. |
| Controls: | Potato flea beetles have several predators. The brachonid wasp will help limit the infestation and is commercially available. So are entomopathogenic nematodes which attack the larvae of the beetles thereby reducing future populations. Naturally occuring formulations of pyrethrin are allowed. Rotenone is effective but the national standards restrict its use. It must be part of a bio-rational pest management program. The use of spinosad formulations such as Conserve and Entrust have been effective in controlling some varieties of leaf beetles. Pyrethrum is also approved for use on flea beetles. It is important to ensure that any insectide has both a pest control product number and is allowable by your certification body. |
