Flea Beetles

Diatomaceous Earth , is the fossilized skeletons of tiny aquatic organisms. The razor sharp edges of this product scratch the exoskeletons of hard bodied insects, such as flea beetles- making them susceptible to fatal attack from natural organisms in the soil.

Beneficial Nematodes Nematodes are microscopic non-segmented worms which occur naturally in soil all over the world. Thousands of strains exist with different lifestyles. Beneficial nematodes only attack soil dwelling insects and leave plants alone. The nematodes enter the host through body openings or by penetration of the body wall. Once inside they release a bacterium which kills the host within 48 hours.

Deterrents

• Cedarcide is an effective deterrent of flea Beetles and a large array of other insect pests.
• Catnip is also said to deter Flea beetles
   

 

 

"Flea Beetle" is a generic name applied to many species of small jumping beetles commonly seen early in the gardening season. They are somewhat elongated to oval in shape, and vary in color, pattern, and size. Some common varieties are

Potato Flea Beetle [Image]

Pale Striped Flea Beetle [Image]

Alder Flea Beetle [Image]

Corn Flea Beetle [Images]

Blueberry Flea Beetle [Image]

 

Flea beetles are a difficult pests to manage , various varieties attack eggplant, seedlings of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, radishes, and corn. The adults are active leaf-feeders that can, in large numbers, rapidly defoliate and kill plants.

Symptoms of flea-beetle feeding are small, rounded, irregular holes [Image]. Some species also transmit plant diseases such as potato blight and bacterial wilt . More damage is done by the larvae, which feed on plant roots. The adults emerge in spring and may feed on weeds and less-desirable vegetation until crop plants become available. As a result, they are frequent pests in seedbeds and on new transplants

 

Weed control in and around planting sites to deprive larvae of food sources. Removal of old crop debris and surface trash to deprive over wintering beetles protective cover. The rotation or isolation of current-year plantings from those of the previous year. and proper crop rotation are good cultural practiv=ces for the suppression of flea and other pest problems.

Pyola An effective alternative to chemicals! Made from canola oil and pyrethrins, controls many stubborn insect pests, including Japanese beetles, Colorado potato beetles, and flea beetles.

Chemical Controls

• Malathion
• Rotenone

 - Images of Sap Beetles

Sap beetles are mostly small black or dark insects that are flattened and broadly oval. Most feed on plant sap that exudes from wounds on ripe and decaying fruit or fungi.  

 

Harvest tomatoes, melons, berries and other produce as soon as they ripen. Remove any damaged, diseased, or overripe fruits and vegetables at regular intervals. The collecting of ripe and decomposing fruits and vegetables  is needed to eliminate beetle food sources.
 

• Malathion
• Rotenone

The rednecked cane borer is a serious pest of raspberries , blackberries and related fruit and bramble. Adult rednecked cane borers attack foliage, feeding on the upper leaf surfaces during the day leaving irregular holes.
Larvae feed on primo canes and form irregular galls from 1 to 3 inches in length which often causes splitting of the bark. . Infested canes die or become so weakened they cannot support a crop the following season. Rednecked cane borers may infest as much as 50 percent of the canes in one or two year old plantings.

The rednecked cane borer adult is a small wood-boring beetle. The slender adults are about 1/4 inch long; they are all black except for an iridescent coppery-red to golden "neck". (See Image to left )

Larvae are white, legless and are flattened just behind the head. They are between 5/8 to 3/4 inch long when mature and have a pair of dark-brown, toothed, forceps-like prongs. Pupae are about the same length and shape as adults.

Asparagus beetle adults are a blue/black beetle with a red underside and yellow spots. The larvae are a soft, green /Yellow grub [Image]. Both feed on asparagus spears by chewing the tips and spear surfaces which leads to scarring and staining of the spears.

Eggs are laid on developing spears with the eggs being small, elongated and black - sticking out lengthwise from the side of asparagus spears.

Early control of beetles is important to reduce feeding damage later. The first defense once there presence has been detected is Rotenone

Malathion, will provide an effective chemical control if the infestation progresses

Effective Predator insects are Lady Bugs and Green Lacewings

 

Pyola An effective alternative to chemicals! Made from canola oil and pyrethrins, controls many stubborn insect pests, including Japanese beetles, Colorado potato beetles, and flea beetles.

The Colorado potato beetle is a robust beetle with five yellow and black stripes on back. Larva is reddish-orange, humpbacked with two rows of black spots on each side.

They prefer to feed on potato, eggplant and tomato. Rotate these preferred hosts with other crops in alternate years.

Effective Predator insects are Lady Bugs which devour Colorado potato beetle eggs .

BioNeem disrupts insects hormonal balance so they die before they molt to the next life stage. BioNEEM suppresses some insects desire to feed and also repels in areas that have been sprayed. These different modes of action result in broad spectrum control of the majority of insects that harm your yard and garden. BioNEEM spares many beneficial insects such as honey bees and Lady Bugs that prey on undesirable insects.

Rotenone is also effective against cucumber beetles.

There are two  different forms of this pest. The striped form is shown in Fig. 1.  It's cousin the spotted cucumber beetle (A/K/A southern corn rootworm) is basically identical except that it features a dozen black spots instead of stripes.   (Another well-known family member is the corn rootworm.)

Whether spotted or striped, both are the same size and the same, greenish-yellow color, and both dine on a wide variety of cucumber and related  vegetables as well as various ornamentals ( roses and dahlias for dessert ) 

Cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin, gourd, melons, other species of cucurbits., beans, corn, peanuts, potatoes, are also on it's menu.. What a balanced diet !

Damage caused by Cucumber beetles
Seedling destruction, Flower & Foliage damage
Root Feeding and Disease transmission .

Probably the most serious damage by cucumber beetles is transmission of bacterial wilt. In the worst case scenario this disease can wipe out your Garden . The striped and the spotted cucumber beetle both can carry the bacteria.

Thoroughly cultivate soil before planting, Look for plant varieties that are resistant to these pests. Inspect plants frequency for beetle infestations

Planting radishes ,nasturtium and marigolds in close proximity of target plants will help to repel cucumber beetles. [See Companion Planting]

Dusting the plant lightly with a charcoal or soot mixture and repeating after every rain will also help keep this varmint at bay. Warning -  Excessive use of this practice will inhibit photosynthesis

 

Rotenone is the first line defense. 

In severe infestations Malathion is recommended .

(A/K/A cabbage bug, calicoback, calico bug)
The adult black, shield-shaped bug is covered with orange, red, and yellow markings. It varies in size, but is generally no more than 3/8 inch.
The barrel-shaped egg, laid in clusters on crucifer foliage, is light gray to pale yellow with two black bands [Images]. The nymph is similar to the adult in coloration, but is smaller and lacks wings.[Images]

Found from coast to coast in North America , but no further North than Southern Ontario and Maine. It does its primary damage in the southern states.

Harlequin bugs will  feed on squash, corn, bean, asparagus, okra, tomato, cabbage turnip ,Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, collard, mustard, radish