Flea Beetles (Epitrix Spp.)

Exotic Pest Fact Sheet 6 Flea Beetles (Epitrix spp.) What are they? Why are they an issue? Epitrix spp. (including cucumeris, similaris, subcrinita, The adults of the flea beetles feed on the leaves of the tuberus and others) is a biological grouping of flea plants causing damage. This damage is not usually beetles which are thought to feed on a number of economically significant in older plants but damage to Fig1: Potato flea beetle (E. cucumeris). host plants but prefer members of the Solanaceae seedlings can result in death or stunted growth. The Leaf injury to tomato seedling. family. Epitrix species are extremely difficult to larvae of most flea beetle species feed on small roots distinguish – even by experts. or root hairs which may slightly reduce plant health and vigour, but typically does not result in substantial economic loss. What do they look like? All species of Epitrix are similar, being dark in colour, How do they spread? only 1.5–2 mm long, convex and covered with short The most likely method of spread of flea beetle is soft hair (Fig 1 & 3). The common name of flea beetle considered to be as pupae or dormant adults in soil is derived from the ability of the adults to jump when Fig 2: Typical shothole feeding wounds associated with both host and non-host plants. to a tomato leaf. Images 1 & 2 : disturbed. Mature larvae range in size from 1-5 mm Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State long and are dirty-white with a brown head. University, Bugwood.org licensed Where are they present? under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License Australia (restricted), parts of Europe, South Africa, What should I look for? Mexico and North and South America. Adults feed on the leaves producing a characteristic ‘shot-hole’ pattern (Fig 2). How can I protect my industry? Check your production site frequently for the presence of new pests and unusual symptoms. Make sure you are familiar with common industry pests so Fig 3: Epitrix cucumeris – Potato you can recognise something different. flea beetle © Copyright Hadel Go 2014-2015 / www.discoverlife.org Last September 2018 reviewed:.

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Morphological Systematics of the Nightshade Flea Beetles Epitrix
Clemson University TigerPrints All Theses Theses 8-2016 Morphological Systematics of the Nightshade Flea Beetles Epitrix Foudras and Acallepitrix Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) in America North of Mexico Anthony Martin Deczynski Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses Recommended Citation Deczynski, Anthony Martin, "Morphological Systematics of the Nightshade Flea Beetles Epitrix Foudras and Acallepitrix Bechyné (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) in America North of Mexico" (2016). All Theses. 2479. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/2479 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MORPHOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS OF THE NIGHTSHADE FLEA BEETLES EPITRIX FOUDRAS AND ACALLEPITRIX BECHYNÉ (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: GALERUCINAE: ALTICINI) IN AMERICA NORTH OF MEXICO A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Entomology by Anthony Martin Deczynski August 2016 Accepted by: Dr. Michael Caterino, Committee Chair Dr. Peter Adler Dr. J. Antonio Baeza ABSTRACT The flea beetle genera Epitrix and Acallepitrix are revised for America North of Mexico, building on a prior preliminary revision of the genus Epitrix by the author (Deczynski 2014). Four new species are described: Epitrix cuprea sp. nov., E. rileyi sp. nov., E. latifrons sp. nov., and E. vasinoda sp. nov., bringing the North American Epitrix fauna to a total of 26 species. A key is provided to adults of all species.
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Flea Beetles (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Chrysomelidae/Alticinae) Tobacco (Epitrix Hirtipennis (Melsheimer)) Southern Tobacco (
Flea beetles (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Chrysomelidae/Alticinae) Tobacco (Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsheimer)) Southern tobacco (Epitrix fasciata (Blatchley)) Pale striped (Systena blanda (Melsheimer)) Description: Adult: The tobacco and southern tobacco flea beetle adults are small (1.4- 2.2 mm in length) and reddish, yellow brown, with a brown patch across the width of the elytra. The southern tobacco adult is slightly smaller and wider than the tobacco flea beetle. The pale striped flea beetle adult is larger (3.0- 4.3 mm long) and has a pair of pale yellow stripes lengthwise down the back, one stripe on each elytron. Immature stages: All of the above species have three larval instars that are whitish with darker heads, and all feed on fine roots near the soil surface or occasionally tunnel into larger roots. The tobacco flea beetle larvae range Tobacco flea beetle adult. from 1 mm after hatching to 4.2 mm at maturity, while the pale stripe larvae range from 1 to 11 mm. Biology: Life cycle: Tobacco flea beetle females can lay up to 200 eggs which hatch in 6- 8 days. The larval development typically lasts from 16-20 days under warm conditions. The last instar larva forms a small cell in the soil where it pupates, and the adult emerges 4-5 days later for a total of 26-33 days. The pale striped flea beetle requires a longer time to develop from egg to adult, 28-54 days total. Seasonal distribution: There are 3-4 generations of the tobacco flea beetles per year. High numbers have been observed in south Georgia in late June in Solanaceous crop transplants, and we think that this is likely a second generation.
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Barcoding Chrysomelidae: a Resource for Taxonomy and Biodiversity Conservation in the Mediterranean Region
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Flea Beetles
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Flea Beetles
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Section IV – Guideline for the Texas Priority Species List
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Biological Observations and Control of Potato Flea Beetle, Epitrix Cucumeris Harris
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PM 7/109 (2) Epitrix Cucumeris, Epitrix
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Invasive Species
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