Potato Flea Beetle

Friday, March 21 2003 @ 06:00 AM

Contributed by: Admin

Source: eap.mcgill.ca
Potato Flea Beetle-Epitrix cucumeris. Black or brown, jumping beetle. Feeds on weeds and tree foliage until vegetable shoots appear

DESCRIPTION and LIFE HISTORY * indicates damaging stage
*Adult (1 mm):
Black or brown, jumping beetle; feeds on weeds and tree foliage until vegetable shoots appear; may feed for over 2 mos; hibernates in soil, under crop remnants, etc.

Egg: Tiny, not readily seen; laid in June in or on soil near base of plant; hatch in 7-10 days.

*Larva (1 cm): Slender, white; brownish head feeds on plant roots or tubers for 2-4 weeks.

Pupa: In soil for 7-10 days

Generations/Year: 1-4: 1 or 2 in eastern Canada

DAMAGE Attacks POTATO, EGGPLANT, TOMATO, EGGPLANT, etc .
Adults eat tiny shot-like holes in leaves (mostly from beneath).
Larvae attack underground parts and transmit plant diseases, e.g., spindle tuber. blight, brown rot, scab and scurf.

CONTROL: Cultivate frequently (kills eggs), and till after harvest (kills adults);
Remove weeds (food) and plant debris (hibernation sites);
Repel with small containers of equal parts old soot and agricultural lime;
Sprinkle hardwood ashes on plants 2-3 times/week;
Protect seedbeds with gauze; seed thickly and thin after early-season danger is past;
Apply garlic spray, diatomaceous earth1;
Pass sticky shields2 or boxes over infested plants to catch beetles as they jump;
Spray or dust with rotenone as last resort;
Interplant with cabbage family crops3;
Grow near shade-giving crops (flea beetles don't like shade).
Includes BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUT, CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, KALE, KOHLRABI, MUSTARD, RADISH, RUTABAGA, TURNIP, etc. and related weeds.

http://www.mygardenpatch.com/20030321060014248.htm

DESCRIPTION and LIFE HISTORY	* indicates damaging stage *Adult (1 mm): Black or brown, jumping beetle; feeds on weeds and tree foliage until vegetable shoots appear; may feed for over 2 mos; hibernates in soil, under crop remnants, etc.
Egg:	Tiny, not readily seen; laid in June in or on soil near base of plant; hatch in 7-10 days.
*Larva (1 cm):	Slender, white; brownish head feeds on plant roots or tubers for 2-4 weeks.
Pupa:	In soil for 7-10 days
Generations/Year:	1-4: 1 or 2 in eastern Canada
DAMAGE	Attacks POTATO, EGGPLANT, TOMATO, EGGPLANT, etc . Adults eat tiny shot-like holes in leaves (mostly from beneath). Larvae attack underground parts and transmit plant diseases, e.g., spindle tuber. blight, brown rot, scab and scurf.
CONTROL:	Cultivate frequently (kills eggs), and till after harvest (kills adults); Remove weeds (food) and plant debris (hibernation sites); Repel with small containers of equal parts old soot and agricultural lime; Sprinkle hardwood ashes on plants 2-3 times/week; Protect seedbeds with gauze; seed thickly and thin after early-season danger is past; Apply garlic spray, diatomaceous earth1; Pass sticky shields2 or boxes over infested plants to catch beetles as they jump; Spray or dust with rotenone as last resort; Interplant with cabbage family crops3; Grow near shade-giving crops (flea beetles don't like shade). Includes BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUT, CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER, KALE, KOHLRABI, MUSTARD, RADISH, RUTABAGA, TURNIP, etc. and related weeds.