Date:		  
To:		 AgEnto@listserv.montana.edu
Subject:	 pale striped flea beetles 
From:		 Sue Blodgett
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Pale-striped flea beetles are being observed damaging alfalfa

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Samples have come in from Yellowstone and Big Horn Counties but I expect
there are more of you out there that may be getting inquires about late
alfalfa weevil larvae damage.  Check fields closely.  What you may be seeing
is flea beetle damage.   Adult pale-striped flea beetles chew small circular
holes through the leaf. The circular holes give damaged plants a 'shot hole'
appearance that coalesce when populations are high resulting in a lacey,
skeletonized appearance of the leaves.  In alfalfa - this damage can look
similar to alfalfa weevil larvae but feeding is concentrated at the base of
the leaves and is quite late for alfalfa weevil larvae.  Although I have
seen this type of damage - it has not been severe enough to warrant
treatment.  A sweep net can be used to rapidly determine if this pest is
present.=20=20

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Adult pale-striped flea beetles are dark black to brown in color with two
distinctive broad white to yellow striped down their back.  They measure 1/6
to =BC of an inch in length and have the typical jumping behavior of the fl=
ea
beetles.  These insects damage a wide range of plants in addititon to
alfalfa including sunflowers, potatoes, corn, oat, beans, pea and a wide
range of garden vegetables.  Damage is more severe on seedling plants.=20

=20

=20

Sue Blodgett, Assoc Prof

Dept Entomology, L. Johnson Hall

Montana State University

Bozeman, MT 59717

Phone:  (406) 994-2402           Fax: (406) 994-6029

blodgett@montana.edu

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Pale-striped flea beetles are being observed damaging
alfalfa

 

Samples have come in from Yellowston=
e a=
nd =
Big =
=
Horn =
=
Counties b=
ut I
expect there are more of you out there that may be getting inquires about l=
ate
alfalfa weevil larvae damage.=A0 Check fields closely.=A0 What you may be s=
eeing is
flea beetle damage.=A0 =A0Adult pale-striped flea beetles chew small circul=
ar holes
through the leaf. The circular holes give damaged plants a 'shot hole'
appearance that coalesce when populations are high resulting in a lacey, sk=
eletonized
appearance of the leaves.=A0 In alfalfa - this damage can look similar to
alfalfa weevil larvae but feeding is concentrated at the base of the leaves=
 and
is quite late for alfalfa weevil larvae.=A0 Although I have seen this type =
of
damage - it has not been severe enough to warrant treatment.=A0 A sweep net
can be used to rapidly determine if this pest is present.=A0 =


 

Adult pale-striped flea beetles are dark black to brown =
in
color with two distinctive broad white to yellow striped down their back.=
=A0 They
measure 1/6 to =BC of an inch in length and have the typical jumping behavi=
or of
the flea beetles.=A0 These insects damage a wide range of plants in additit=
on to
alfalfa including sunflowers, potatoes, corn, oat, beans, pea and a wide ra=
nge
of garden vegetables.=A0 Damage is more severe on seedling plants. <=
/font>


 

 

Sue Blodgett, Assoc Prof<=
/p>

Dept Entomology, L. Johnson Hall=


Montana
 State
 University

Bozeman,
 MT 59717

Phone:=A0 (406) 994-2402=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0 Fax: (406)
994-6029

blodgett@montana.edu

 







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