Exotic Pest Fact Sheet 6 Flea (Epitrix spp.)

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