Flea Beetle Control

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How to Get Rid of Flea Beetles Naturally Flea beetles are among the most damaging early-season pests in the vegetable garden and the nursery. These tiny, hard-shelled beetles are easy to recognize by their habit of jumping like fleas when disturbed. They also create distinctive shot-hole damage on leaves. What makes flea beetles particularly threatening is their timing. Adults overwinter near the garden and emerge in spring precisely when seedlings are at their most vulnerable. A severe infestation can defoliate and kill young seedlings within days of emergence. Effective flea beetle management combines early preventative action, physical barriers, soil-applied biological controls targeting larvae, and targeted organic treatments for adults. We offer natural flea beetle control solutions. What Are Flea Beetles? Flea beetles are small, hard-shelled beetles in the family Chrysomelidae (leaf beetles). Adults are tiny (1/16 to 1/8 inch, or 1.5 to 3 mm). They generally shiny and dark-colored, though some species have distinctive stripes or patterns. Most flea beetle species are host-specific, meaning individual species tend to feed on closely related groups of plants. This means that knowing which flea beetle species is attacking your crop helps predict what other plants in your garden are at risk. The most important North American species fall into three main groups: Crucifer Flea Beetles -- Brassica Specialists: Crucifer flea beetle (Phyllotreta cruciferae): Shiny, blue-black beetle. The most common flea beetle pest of brassica crops in North America. Feeds on all members of the cabbage family. Striped flea beetle (Phyllotreta striolata): Black with distinctive yellow-white curved stripes along each side of the back. Also a major brassica pest. Horseradish flea beetle (Phyllotreta armoraciae): Attacks horseradish and other brassicas. Western black flea beetle (Phyllotreta pusilla): Shiny black to dark olive-green; attacks brassicas in the western US. Solanaceous Flea B