Flea beetles are small, jumping beetles that will feed on many crops in the garden. They mainly feed on brassicas and related plants.
So, a flea beetle infestation can cause significant damage to your vegetable garden. Therefore, make every effort to get rid of them as soon as you see the first sign of them.
Lifecycle
Flea beetles are of the family Chrysomelidae. They go through four stages in their lives: egg, larva, pupa, and adult [1]. They are equally damaging in both larval and adult stages.
They lay eggs (usually in spring) around the roots of the host plant. The eggs hatch in one to two weeks, after which the larvae feed on plant roots.
The beetle larvae pupate for about 11 to 13 days before turning into mature beetles. The adults can both jump and fly.
How to Get Rid of Flea Beetles Naturally
Below are some home remedies and organic solutions that work against flea beetles.
1. Neem Oil
A botanical insecticide, neem oil is one of the best remedies to get rid of flea beetles organically. It deters many insects by disrupting their feeding abilities.
It can also mask the scent of your crop, repelling beetles, bugs, and other pests. The treatment helps prevent some plant diseases as well.
Therefore, you can use it to make an organic flea beetle spray. Just combine 4 teaspoons of neem oil with 1 teaspoon of organic liquid soap and a gallon of warm water. Shake well and spray on plants.
2. Insecticidal Soap
You can make your own insecticidal soap from water, vegetable oil, and pure organic liquid soap. This potent soapy water solution will kill flea beetles.
For the recipe, combine five tablespoons of liquid soap, one cup of vegetable oil, and a gallon of water. Shake well and spray it directly on the beetles.
This homemade insecticidal spray will also take care of many other insect pest problems.
3. Repellent Plants
There are a number of plants that repel flea beetles. These include sage, nasturtium, catnip, mint, basil, and French marigolds.
Plant them alongside crops like eggplant, peppers, collards, kale, and tomato plants to discourage flea beetles from coming near.
4. Till Soil
Till the soil before the fall so as to expose any beetles that may have been hiding in the soil. This will expose them to predators that will eat them.
5. Trap Crops
These are plants that you can plant between your crops or on the edges of your vegetable garden to serve as sacrificial plants.
Flea beetles will flock to daikon, radishes, and Pacific gold mustard. Therefore, planting these as trap crops will attract the beetles, drawing them away from your vegetables.
6. Sticky Traps
These traps are mainly utilized to help control an infestation rather than prevent one. Sticky traps are available online and at most farm stores.
But you can also make a flea beetle sticky trap using strips of white or yellow plastic coated in something sticky, like non-drying glue.
7. Beauveria bassiana
Beauveria bassiana is another organic flea beetle control remedy [2].
It doesn’t need to be consumed by the beetles either. Just being touched by the spores will sicken them so badly that they will die eventually.
If you get it from a store to apply in your garden yourself, be sure to wear protective clothing and follow the instructions carefully.
8. Coffee Grounds
Using coffee grounds to control these beetles in the garden is a popular remedy among gardeners. It will repel these pests, as they hate the smell.
However, be careful with which plants you put them around. While they’re a great natural fertilizer, uncomposted coffee grounds can adversely affect some plants.
9. Diatomaceous Earth
Used as an organic gardening pesticide, this white powder is fatal to most pests. It cuts up soft-bodied insects like flea beetle larvae, killing them.
To use diatomaceous earth for flea beetles, spread it around the base of the plants. However, reapply after heavy watering or after there’s been rainfall.
You can also use food-grade DE to get rid of flea beetles in the house.
10. Row Covers
Install row covers over the seedlings when they are growing. However, make sure you remove them when the plants start to flower, or your pollinators will have less to feed on.
11. Natural Predators
Ground beetles, some birds, and toads are natural predators of flea beetles. Braconid wasps will also kill these pests.
With some research, you can find out which natural predators are native to your area as well as how to attract them.
12. Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes will also go after the larval stage of these pests. They enter their bodies and feed on them.
13. Control Weeds
Pulling out weeds from your garden will prevent the beetles from roving about, moving from the weeds to your plants.
14. Kaolin Clay
Kaolin clay can be mixed with water to form a spray. When it dries, it will create a barrier between flea beetles and your plants.
Spraying your crops thoroughly makes it difficult for the beetles to land on them and feed.
15. Mulch
A thick layer of mulch around plants will make it difficult for flea beetle larvae to emerge, later turning into adult beetles.
Flea Beetle Larvae Identification
These tiny, fat, worm-like pests can damage your plants. They hatch from eggs and have a pale-colored appearance with brown heads.
They range in size from ⅛ to ⅓ of an inch. The larvae hide under host plants as soon as they hatch, and they will eat until it’s time for them to pupate.
Crop Damage
Flea beetles are of the leaf beetle family. They can cause crop damage in both larval and adult stages. Adults feed on leaves, while larvae go after tubers and roots.
On top of the physical damage imposed, they can also spread bacterial diseases from infected plants to healthy plants.
Flea beetles will go after Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). These include cabbage, arugula, spinach, bok choy, broccoli, kale, and root vegetables such as turnips, radishes, and horseradish.
They will also go after flowering plants with tubers such as potatoes and other crops like tomatillos, peppers, and Cape gooseberries.
They may also feed on lettuce, eggplant, and tomatoes.
Takeaway
These small, shiny-coated beetles are among the worst pests a gardener can face. Don’t wait until there is an infestation to try the above natural remedies.
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