March 20, 2017

Flea beetles are one of those bugs in small numbers are not a problem in the garden. With severe outbreaks, they can impact the plants ability to make food. Their calling cards are obvious even if you do not see these guys. What folks see first are tinny little “skylights” in the leaves. As their populations grow, there will be a movement that you notice as you walk up to the effected plants. It is only when you study the plant closely that you see tiny (<1/16 inch) beetles. They are darkish in color.

One thing that is important to know about flea beetles, they abhor shade. They especially like single rows of plants that have been mulched. This arrangement gives them lots of sun an a nursery (the mulch) to hatch the next generations.

Last fall I had left some dead plant material in place (thinking it would be a good mulch) and then seeded a turnip bed. Wellll this really made the flea beetles happy.

There are a few things you can do to thwart these guys. I must say for the most part flea beetle invasions are cosmetic and do not harm the plant. I have not read where their feeding can cause mosaic virus like with cucumber beetles and larvae. I like to say that the presence of their “skylights” is a proof of purchase. Meaning that they are organic and quite safe for people to eat. Like I said only in big outbreaks do they need to be controlled.

Ah yes what to do? For starters do not plant into an existing mulch. Sowing the seed and then immediately covering with fabric. Bed culture works well because as the plants achieve crown closure (where the whole bed is covered with foliage) any flea beetles are driven away.

Say you have flea beetles and they are a problem with you (each person has their own tolerance levels) there is a very easy cure. Pulverize a garlic bulb and then let it ferment a few days in a qt. of water. After it has fermented , strain out the garlic pulp. It needs to be a fairly fine strainer because a portion of this liquid will then be put in a sprayer. Fill the spray bottle with water , then spray you effected plants. This will immediately chase off the beetles away. Then secure the bed by immediately covering your plants.

Because I cover most all of my plants I rarely have a problem with them. That is unless I do something stupid and sow a very vulnerable flea beetle crop right into the flea beetle nursery.

There are a few crops that tend to be more vulnerable than others. Eggplants and potatoes are hands down the most favored followed by beans and then the veggies that are close allies of turnips and radishes.

Good luck and happy gardening.