Protect your vegetables from flea beetle damage with these must-know tips.
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What are flea beetles?
Flea beetles are named for their miniscule size and curious patterns of movement.
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There are several different species of flea beetles and they come in a variety of different colors.
Most commonly, flea beetles range in color from tan to black.
Some species sport brighter tones and a few even have striped or spotted shells.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Adult flea beetles overwinter in garden debris and emerge in early spring when temperature reach about 50oF.
After breeding, flea beetles lay their eggs around the base of young plants.
Youngflea beetles often feed on plant roots, while adults will riddle plant leaves with holes.
What do flea beetles eat?
Different types of flea beetles feed on different plants.
Flea beetles also love munching on the leaves of nightshade plants, such astomatoes,peppers, andeggplants.
The pests can be found on other food crops includingsquash,corn, andlettuce.
What does flea beetle damage look like?
Adult flea beetles, on the other hand, can be quite destructive.
Full-sized plants can normally withstand flea beetle damage; however, leafy greens wont look as nice.
Kaolin clay is another useful organic treatment option for flea beetles and other plant pests.
To apply, blend kaolin clay powder with water according to label directions.
Then spray the mixture over any infested plants on a dry day.
