Potato XXII

Flea Beetles

Whitney S. Cranshaw

Flea Beetle

Identification (and life cycle/seasonal history)

The flea beetles common to potato are small, black beetles.  On close inspection they are slightly hairy and the wing covers are not shiny as occurs on many other common flea beetles (e.g., western black flea beetle on cabbage family plants).  The adult stage is the wintering stage which presumably survives during the cold months under crop debris and in sheltered areas around the field edge.

 

Adults fly readily and can disperse long distances.  They are attracted to potatoes and related plants and feed on the leaves, chewing shallow pits in the upper leaf surface.  Eggs are laid in soil cracks at the base of the plants and larvae develop on root hairs.  Damage by most flea beetle larvae is insignificant.  However, larvae of the tuber flea beetle will also feed on tubers, chewing shallow tunnels into the skin.

 

Nightshade family plants are the only known hosts of the potato flea beetle and tuber flea beetle.  Tomatoes are the other crop most commonly damaged by these insects.

Plant Response to Damage

Flea beetle adults chew small pits in foliage, producing a "shothole" symptom.  Defoliation is almost always minor and plants readily grow out the the injury without permanent effects on later yield.  Very high populations shortly after plants emerge can retard growth.

 

Unlike other potato-infesting flea beetles, larvae of the tuber flea beetle will chew on tubers.  The larvae are small and create only tiny pits in the surface of the tuber.  However, appearance is affected as injuries appear scabby.

Management Approaches

Natural Controls

No natural controls signficantly affect flea beetles present in potato fields.

Cultural Controls

Rotation of fields can assist in control of flea beetles.  Adults winter around field edges of previously infested fields and may fly long distances, but are less likely to infested if distance to previous potato fields increases.

 

Chemical Control

Potato flea beetles are readily controlled with a wide variety of insecticides.

 

Product List for Flea Beetles on Potatoes:               

Insecticide

Fl oz or oz. product

Preharvest Interval, Remarks

Foliar Treatments Allowable for Certified Organic Production

Entrust 

1-2 oz/A

7 day PHI, 4 hour reentry.  Flea beetles not on the label but has provided control in trials.  Formulation of spinosad allowed for use in Certified Organic production.

Ecozin, Neemix

as labelled

12 hour reentry.  Azadirachtin, an extract of neem seed.  Has repellent, antifeedant activity and kills as an insect growth regulator.

Planting Time/Soil Treatments

Platinum

5.8 fl. oz/A

12 hour reentry.  Neonicotinoid

Platinum Gold  

2.2 fl. oz./1000 row-ft

insecticide (thiamethoxam).  Platinum gold includes fungicide metalxyl.  Planting time treatment. 

Admire 2F

0.9-1.3 fl. oz./1000 row-ft

12 hour reentry.  Neonicotinoid insecticide (imidacloprid).  Planting time treatment.

phorate (Thimet)

use labelled rates

72 hour reentry.  Planting time band or in-furrow treatment.  Organophosphate insecticide (phorate).

Di-Syston 15G

use labelled rates

(72 hour reentry) Planting time band or in-furrow treatment.  Organophosphate insecticide (disulfoton).

Foliar Applications1

Ambush, Pounce

as labelled       

14 day PHI, 12 hour reentry. Pounce and Ambush are formulations of the pyrethroid insecticide permethrin

Baythroid 2

1.6-2.8 fl. oz./A

0 day PHI, 12 hour reentry.  Pyrethroid insecticide (cyfluthrin).

Asana XL

5.8-9.6 fl. oz./A

7 day PHI, 12 hour reentry.  Pyrethroid insecticide (esfenvalerate)

SpinTor, Success

3-6 fl. oz./A

7 day PHI, 4 hour reentry.  Naturalyte insecticide (spinosyns)

Sevin, Carbaryl

as labelled

7 day PHI, 12 hour reentry.  Several formulations of carbaryl (carbamate insecticide)

Imidan 70W

1 2/3 lbs/A

7 day PHI, 24 hour reentry.  Organophosphate insecticide (phosmet) but with lower negative impact on insect natural enemies than most broad spectrum insecticides

Provado 1.6F

3.75 fl. oz/A

7 day PHI, 12 hour reentry.  Neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) insecticide.  Maximum 15 fl. oz/A per season

Leverage 2.7

3.75 fl. oz/A

7 day PHI, 12 hour reentry.  Combination neonicotinoid (imidacloprid)/pyrethroid (cyfluthrin)

endosulfan (Phaser,

Thiodan, Thionex, etc.)

as labelled

1 day PHI, 24 hour reentry. Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide (endosulfan)

Furadan 4F

1-2 pts/A

14 day PHI, 48 hour reentry.  Carbamate insecticide/nematicide.

Monitor

1 1/2-2 pts/A  

14 day PHI, 72 hour reentry.  Organophosphate insecticide (methamidophos).  Has been highly effective against green peach aphid.

Di-Syston 8

2-3 pt/A

30 day PHI, 72 hour reentry.  Organophosphate insecticide (disulfoton)

Guthion, Azinphosmethyl

as labelled

7 day PHI, 72 hour reentry.  Organophosphate insecticide (azinphosmethyl)

RRestricted Use Pesticide. 1Labelled for chemigation.
The information herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that listing of commercial products, necessary to this guide, implies no endorsement by the authors or the Extension Services of Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana. Criticism of products or equipment not listed is neither implied nor intended. Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the Extension Services can assume no liability for the suggested use of chemicals contained herein. Pesticides must be applied legally complying with all label directions and precautions on the pesticide container and any supplemental labeling and rules of state and federal pesticide regulatory agencies. State rules and regulations and special pesticide use allowances may vary from state to state: contact your State Department of Agriculture for the rules, regulations and allowances applicable in your state and locality.

 

 

Categories: Potato, Insects, Flea beetle, Epitrix cucumeris, Epitrix

 

Date: 03/18/2004